Little Women

The story of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott was published 155 years ago; however, the story is still very much in the present and this particular version shows how much the story line is still relevant to modern families and the women of the household. I must admit that I have never read the book, nor seen any film or play, so did not know the storyline at all apart from knowing that it was a story about sisters.

The play is set around the time of the American Civil War and the majority of the action takes place in what I presume would be the Parlour of the March Family home. This set took up the whole of the stage, it was straight forwardly furnished, dressed with a piano stage centre right and a writing bureau upstage left allowing plenty of space for the cast to move around. Centre stage rear was a window with a scene of a house in the distance which one may assume was Theodore Laurence’s house. How I wished that this was French Doors rather than a window with a low sill. To allow for different scenes there were white drapes that pulled across closing off the main set and this proved most effective, moved (almost) seamlessly by cast members as they moved from scene to scene. Costumes were generally excellent, as was hair, wigs and make-up, with sound I did struggle to hear Marmee at times. There were one or two quirks that did not fit in with the period the play was set in, Meg would not have worn a thin strappy vest top. Also, the daughters would have loved their mother but would have distinctly been a little fearful of her and showed a certain respect. I did feel that the lighting changes were sometimes imperceptible so that I hadn’t realised that we had moved to a different time period until the dialogue had made that clear (not being able to read the programme until after the show).

The performances of the March family were such that I was really drawn into the story. I really wanted to slap stroppy teenager Amy portrayed by Natalie Beare, what an awful girl but then she blossomed into a sensible young married woman. She really showed the growth of the character throughout the play. In contrast was the rather sensible and loveable eldest sister Meg played by Laura-Jayne Cook. She embodied the love she had for her siblings, along with her sister Jo she showed her love for dance and fun but also the desire to fall in love, marry and have her own family, which happily she does. Danielle Shippey as Jo showed the intensity of desire to write, to be her own woman, the failure to recognise the need for love and to be loved, I did love this performance and was glad she surprised her family with her realisation of the love she had for Professor Bhaer. There was a recognition of the close relationship between her and her younger sibling, the quietest daughter Beth, played by Emma Fraser with the freedom of youth but also the depth of illness. Both aspects of this character were well displayed and she played a slowly sick and dying young woman perfectly, the death scene with her and Jo was handled sensitively.

Abigail ‘Marmee’ was effectively played by Carol Storey showing the wife of a church minister as one would expect, loving and peace keeping. Whilst keeping her daughters together yet showing the missed support of her husband and the fears for him away at war. A subtle, quiet and strong performance in comparison to domineering yet ultimately loving performance of Lorraine Carver as Aunt March whose appearance always dominated the stage with her strong stage presence.

The cast was completed by Gregory Harding as the loveable Theodore Laurence who transformed from a teenager who wanted to play and have fun, a rejected lover, through a dissolute young man into finally a loving husband. Four Stages of man well portrayed. He was supported by Ewan McConnachie playing his solid and serious friend John Brooke who resolutely courted Meg, this was a role that suited him very well and was a good contrast giving him courteous stiff yet friendly manner. The last to appear was James Lock as Professor Bhaer, this part could have been doubled but James gave him a character and a personality and brought us a German accent that was not a parody.

I really felt that I was drawn into the life of this family and that was down to the performances and capabilities of the great cast and director,

 

 

 

 

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