Little Women the Broadway musical

I remember reading Little Women and the subsequent texts when I was younger and thoroughly enjoying them so I was really looking forward to watching your production to see how such an iconic text could be adapted into a musical and it didn’t disappoint.

Louisa May Alcott was lucky to have been born into the progressive family she had been. He father was an educator who created a special half-moon desk in her bedroom for her to write at and her mother made her special scribbling suits with caps and presented her with a pen. This at a time when it was commonly thought that ‘brain work’ such as writing was thought to ruin a women’s health. She was the second of four daughters whom she referred to as the ‘sisterhood’ all with varying talents and expectations. The highs and lows of her family and friends’ lives inspired her to write the bestselling ‘Little Women’.

Andy Martin’s ingenious stage set consisted of vertical wooden slats of differing lengths with stairs on both stage left and right up to Jo’s attic bedroom. The slats on the upper stage opened to an open fireplace which was integral to part of the story. This part also revolved to create the house front, aunt’s house and arched windows at the ball. A bookcase was set stage right and a curtain, pictures and a trellis flown in to enhance various scenes. The stage was dressed with a variety of period props which added authenticity to the performance and these were cleverly moved around by the cast and stage crew. I particularly like the way the chaise lounge was covered with many different materials, the trunk with costumes in related well to the one in ‘Orchard House’ which the family really used to create their own plays and the wheelchair. The lighting was set both on bars at the side of the stage and those on the playing areas were well controlled and added to the performance. The sound levels were set at correct levels and the text and lyrics could be clearly distinguished.

The costumes were excellent all well- fitting and adding to the period feel of the piece, Meg, Amy and Beth appeared to have a colour palette which was used throughout, except after Beth’s death, and Amy’s grand dress when she returned from her travels was beautiful.  Marmie was dressed appropriately in darker shades and Aunt March befitting her station was in black initially with her white lace cap and pince-nez and both had more extravagant outfits for the wedding. Mrs Kirk looked just the part with her mop cap and apron.  If was great to see you had bothered with hoops and I know personally they can cause problems when movement is added, just remember to add a stitch to ensure they are not hanging below a skirt. Time had also been taken to ensure all the men within the show looked were well turned out with a uniform, suits, waistcoats and appropriate accessories.  The costumes used to depict the players in Jo’s play were great and added definition to them, using the twigs as fingers for the hag was inspired. Finally, Jo’s outfits, initially I was surprised to see her in breeches/bloomers, shirt and waistcoat but it certainly demonstrated the determined, tomboy, feminist nature of her character and related her to Rodrigo in her Christmas play. Her other outfits were of more muted colours and the fact that she had a scorch mark on her party dress showed her disregard of period expectation. All the hairstyles were correct and make up was kept to a minimum. Well done.

The choreography during this musical was carefully directed and all those taking part demonstrated an understanding of their steps.

It was great to hear your sympathetic orchestra under the expert direction of Brian Gerry. They added so much depth to the period feel of the piece and enhanced all the musical numbers. When you consider the show was written in 2005 Jason Howland had composed a score that feels like it was created many years ago. Time had obviously been taken to ensure the cast were well rehearsed and knew and delivered their songs with feeling. It was good to be able to hear the harmonies within the songs.

This production is led and centres around Jo and her interaction and expectation of the other members of the cast. She is the driving force of the production and is barely off the stage. She has to show a gamut of emotions and have an incredible singing voice and your player was absolutely brilliant. She commanded the stage throughout and used the playing area brilliantly, one minute she was on the stage, then up the stairs to the attic room and then back down again all whilst singing. The actor showed Jo’s determination, frustration, enthusiasm, passion, emotion and loyalty. Her lip-synced delivery during the plays was spot on and her delivery of Jo’s songs was outstanding showing strength, affection, intensity, despair and any other response you could think of. ‘Some things are meant to be’ was honestly heart-breaking. Her moments with Laurie and the Professor were played with sincerity. A tour de force performance.

Meg was Jo’s oldest sister who although invested in the ‘sisterhood’ longs for a settled life with a husband and family. Your player was able to demonstrate the different facets of the characters.  I enjoyed her depictions in Jo’s plays. Her interaction with John was very believable and her singing was tiptop. I especially enjoyed the emotional rendering of ‘More than I am’.

Beth was the gentlest of all the sisters who like to rest of the family was willing to help others least fortunate than themselves and subsequently caught scarlet fever which was to take her life. She was a shy talented musician who was happy to remain at home. The actor depicting Beth did so with the gentleness needed. Her song ‘Off to Massachusetts’ with Mr Laurence was beautifully delivered and using the kite flying over the audience to show her end created a notable hush in the audience.

The youngest daughter of the family was Amy who was a talented artist and being the youngest has a pompous air, appears to be spoilt and expects to get her own way. These facets of the character were well played by your actor. She showed her sulky side when not allowed to go to the ball, her spiteful side when she put Jo’s play in the fire, her temperamental side with stamping of feet, her vain side with her clothing and finally her loving side with Laurie. Their duet ‘The most amazing thing’ was beautifully delivered.

The actor depicting Marmie brought a gravitas to the part. She was the strong backbone of the family unit and her singing of ‘Here alone’ was a beautiful rendition of a mother trying her best to raise her four daughters while her husband was away at war and ‘Days of plenty’ was powerfully delivered.

Aunt March was brought to life cleverly by your cast member. She was a dominant character whose expectation of what a lady was clashed with Jo’s ideas and she eventually decided to take Amy to Europe to develop the ladylike skills needed to gain herself a rich husband. She certainly looked the part with her gown, lace cap, pince-nez, fan and pearls. Her delivery of ‘Could you’ with Jo was brilliant. I would also like to praise this actor’s portrayal of Mrs Kirk, the boarding house owner. Her accent was great and the interactions between her and the Professor and Jo were great. I liked her ability to express and opinion with a look.

Residing at the boarding house with Jo was the German Professor Bhaer who was wonderfully played by your cast member. He had a very up right direct manner about him and said what he thought which didn’t always go down well with Jo. ‘How am I’ in response to Jo’s letter was delivered with such feeling and ‘Small umbrella in the rain’ brought an emotional conclusion to the story.

Laurie was the boy next door who lived with his grandfather and became friends with the March family against his grandfather’s wishes. The actor portraying him certainly looked the part. He interacted well with the others on the stage but appeared a little nervous and it was at times spoke quickly and it was a little difficult to hear his dialogue. Saying that his confidence did seem to improve during the show. His singing of ‘Take a chance on me’ when he was proposing to Jo was well delivered and he showed great disappointment when she refused him and joy when he returned from Europe and was engaged to Amy.

The actor playing Laurie’s tutor John Brooke did so with honesty. His reserved manor won the heart of Meg and his sense of duty came across in his duet with her. It was wonderful in the final scene when he spoke about his love for Meg.

Mr Laurence was depicted as a stern man with expectation of what Laurie should do but it was lovely to see his softer side with his interactions with Beth. Well delivered.

I know that any performance does not just include those on the stage or in the orchestra. I would like to commend you all on the standard of the show I watched today and finally I would like to make a special mention of your new director Tim Scott-Lloyd. I have seen him perform and this has obviously taught him much about stage craft which he

implemented today. The stage direction he gave to the cast was outstanding, not one piece of the playing area was unused. The characters obviously knew what was expected of them all and produced a fantastic performance.

This musical takes us through a gamut of emotions and themes. We see a family through Jo’s eyes changing as the years go on and how she attempts to make sense of the changes and pursuing her destiny. Many thanks for asking me to attend.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre.  

It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

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