Little Women

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has been a right-of-passage read for adolescent girls since it was first published 147 years ago. It could arguably be called the first ‘girl empowerment’ story. The adventures both amorous and otherwise of the four New England March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy and their patient and understanding mother Marmee during America’s Civil War era have not only delighted and warmed readers in print, but also in movie, television and musical adaptations.

The sprawling narrative of the novel is not easy to adapt, encompassing as it does so many years and so many incidents as the girls grow into adulthood. Scott Davidson’s adaptation furnishes the major highlights of the story by using a series of quick blackout scenes and voice-over narration. Although the device is a bit clunky it nevertheless accomplished the author’s intent in a swiftly moving 105 minutes.

The strongest performance came from Jermia Turner as the wilful and tomboyish Jo. She endearingly captured the feistiness of the character as well as the vulnerability, and worked well with Matthew Malone who impressed as her initial love-interest Laurie. Olivia Pinwill was a feminine and pretty older sister Meg, and coupled nicely with Lachlan Walker as the tutor John Brooke, while Bethany Conwell’s Beth had introspection. The double-casting of Amy saw Lisa Gorse being spiteful and bratty as the child, and Steff King likeable as an adult.

The character of Marmee, although well-meaning, always comes across as impossibly-good and Davidson’s sketching of her doesn’t break the cliche. Tanya Maxwell does what she can with it, but the role could do with a little less sugar. Jane Sizer’s Aunt March brought a welcome caustic humour to the piece, while Glynne Liddy’s Irish maid Hannah brooked no-nonsense.

The parlour set was period appropriate but too cumbersome for the short scenes the script demanded due no doubt to Villanova having to secure a new venue at short notice. Costumes were stylish but could have had more attention to detail with some of the women not wearing wraps in the early scenes when the New England weather is notoriously cold. Fiona Kennedy’s direction of the large cast was accomplished, Alcott’s vision was realised, and the audience, which included many ‘little women,’ were happily satisfied.

Peter Pinne

Image: Marmee reading a letter from father [from left] Meg [Olivia Pinwill], Marmee [Tania Maxwell], Jo at back [Jermia Turner], Little Amy [Lisa Gorse] and kneeling Beth [Bethany Conwell].