Little Women - The Broadway Musical

Little Women the book is well known, the musical not so much. I was intrigued to see how this well-known story would translate from page to stage. Under the careful direction of Valerie Wilson, in her debut as a Director, this story came to life.  The set was obviously a fixed set with different levels to depict Jo`s bedroom in the attic and the living space. By the simple movement of pieces of furniture, we transferred to a Boarding house in New York, a forest, a garden scene and Aunt March’s. Costumes were very fitting to the era and Nina Rennie and her team did a marvellous job in creating the period costumes. Props were pertinent to the scenes and were handled competently and confidently by the cast. Nick Riley as Musical Director was unobtrusive and the cast had obviously been well drilled as no notes were dropped and no entrances missed. The three-piece band worked perfectly for this production, timing was exquisite and it sounded to the audience as if it were a much bigger orchestra. Sound and lighting were good and it was the first time that the Brigend had the whole cast miked up. It worked well in this small intimate theatre space.

The March sisters as a whole had some fabulous chemistry together, the dynamics within the family unit were very clear to see. Alison Donnelly as Marmee showed off great skills in this part, she truly gave this character life and made the audience feel everything that she did as her character received news from her husband during the Civil War. She was able to express the worries and hardship of the time being left to bring up three young girls while firmly extending her belief in always helping others. Caitlin Wallace as Jo March was clear and concise in both dialogue and vocals, she had a superb grasp on Jo`s character, her exuberance, her stubbornness, her fierce loyalty, her forthrightness. I loved the way she was comfortable enough to go from frantic excitement to quieter introspection and self-doubt without dropping pace at all. Vocals were strong and tone was good. I particularly liked “Astonishing”. Sarah Rogers as the softly spoken sweet Beth was beautifully portrayed as the much quieter, calmer, sister, her dialogue and vocals delivery was clear and I enjoyed watching all her interactions with her sisters. Meg March, played by Maeve Reekie had some beautiful vocals, she navigated her way round the stage with ease and kept pace well, watching her relationship on stage with John Brooke (Ben Johnston) develop and grow throughout the show was a quiet masterclass in how to do it - every movement, every glance was pure. In his first principal role with the company Ben rolled out a great performance, he was at home with the audience being as close as they were and his vocals in "More Than I Am" were good, and the chemistry between Meg and John was very evident. Sharron Harper as matriarchal Aunt March was strident, fierce and commanding yet she managed to show us glimpses of a softer side. She kept her accent and haughty demeanour well and her vocals were strong. Laurie played by Hamish Bremner, another debutant with DMTC was endearing and clumsy, his dialogue was clear, diction was good during his characterised frantic delivery. His chemistry on stage with first Caitlin Wallace (Jo) and then Tess Harper (Amy) was good, he threw himself completely into all his choreography and seemed very comfortable working on the stage. Tess Harper played Amy March - the spoiled youngest sister who blossomed into the cultured young lady and then bride to be under Aunt March`s careful watch, she cleverly portrayed Amy`s young spiteful side and her insecurities right up to the wedding. She had some pleasant vocals, dialogue was clear and her use of the stage space was good, particularly when the four sisters were working the stage together.

Neil Webster as Mr Laurence looked completely at home on the stage, I especially enjoyed his duet at the piano with Beth, he managed to portray the thawing of his character from gruff elderly gent to kind friend of the whole family in a very believable way. John McIntyre as Professor Bhaer was incredible, how he managed to hold his accent throughout the whole show and deliver his dialogue clearly and concisely is a mystery to me, his chemistry with Jo was evident from the start. He used his stage space well and never embellished his character; he was believable. 

During the scenes in the boarding house when Jo reads the story she has written, to Professor Bhaer and Mrs Kirk, her landlady, (although one of the smaller parts in the production was eloquently played by Sharon FW Mitchell and I liked her Irish accent which she maintained throughout), we see the characters in the story come to life and I was very impressed by Eve Daniell, who played Braxton and a Troll, Rhianna McCrorie-Neil (Rodrigo , The Hag and The Knight), along with Emma Thomson who played Clarrisa. They were excellent in their dialogue complimenting Jo as she relates the story eventually taking over as Jo mimes the words, and enacted it superbly in melodramatic style.

The whole cast worked very hard in this show and executed the fun and exciting choreography by Erin Aitchison and Amy McCreadie to a high standard, it was fresh and innovative and very enjoyable to watch, this coupled with the strong harmonies that had obviously been well drilled with the cast helped to move the show along well.

Whilst this was Valerie Wilson’s debut as a Director I am absolutely certain it will not be her last.  A very well done to her and to the whole cast and crew for a most entertaining and enjoyable performance.

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