credit: Just So Society

Little Women: Reviewed

These little women are standing tall on the StAge in Just So’s production of Little Women.

“It’s a mean and stormy night. The moors are bleak and bloody. Thunder claps! Lightning Strikes! The fair Clarissa, her clothes in disarray, races across the wild coastal heath – “

Replace “Clarissa” with “reviewer”, “moors” with “golf courses” and “heath” with “town”, and you have a rather accurate description of my journey to see Little Women: The Musical (directed by Molly Ketcheson and Kate Stamoulis) at the StAge one blustery March evening. I was not the only one to brave the storm: the auditorium was booming with laughter and chatter as I entered to take my seat.

credit: Just So Society

We sat waiting, facing a stage with its black curtains drawn, and an assortment of old-fashioned, homely chairs strewn across the floor between it and the seats. You would have been forgiven for thinking the whole production was going to unravel in that small space; however, when the lights fell and silence with them, the curtains pulled away to reveal a stage with a chair, a table with a keyboard on it (which turned out to be a stand-in for a piano) and a raised platform running along the back, upon which sat yet another chair and some books.

These three levels represented three areas of the house of the March family around whom the story centres: a living area, then a neutral hallway-type space on the stage, and the attic. Set designer Eleanor Clyburn managed to recreate a whole building using very little and was effectively used throughout, with the characters moving with ease from level to level, and other locations were easily shown with no confusion. Changes in lighting and a spotlight helped isolate the levels and added a sense of drama to the more emotional moments.

So, what of the characters? Well, there were quite a few. Aside from the four March sisters and their mother “Marmee”, there was Dr Bhaer the professor, Laurie and his grandfather the neighbours, Laurie’s tutor John and formidable Aunt March. The supporting cast all did a largely admirable job, with Alex Schellekens’ Laurie in particular provoking bouts of laughter throughout the performance.

credit: Just So Society

But the show was ultimately, and rightly, carried by the central family. Mhairi Claire Lynch as Marmee was perhaps a little underplayed, but I’ll put this down to opening-night nerves. Harriet Tyler perfectly embodied the angelic sweetness of Beth; Emma Johnston was consistently endearing as Meg; and Aria Ornes commanded the stage as temperamental but good-hearted Amy. In the largest role, Mackenzie Pinkin lead the way as aspiring writer Jo, skilfully navigating her moments of anger, sadness, joy and lovingness. All five worked well together and they were a convincing family from the start.

Little Women: The Musical is, of course, a musical, and it doesn’t let you forget that fact for a second. Packed to the brim with musical numbers, the characters always seemed on the brink of bursting into song. Unfortunately, the songs were all very similar and none were memorable – well, not on the merit of their melodies anyway. The soundtrack’s dominion over the narrative was partly, but not completely, justified by the performers’ singing talents – which also made up for any weaknesses in their performances. The actresses portraying the March family had particularly beautiful singing voices and pulled off some amazing harmonies. Pinkin’s solo “The Fire Within Me” stood out as a powerful and moving solo, thanks to her powerful singing and performance. As talented as the singers all were and as lovely as it was to listen to them, I can’t help but wish there were fewer songs and more moments of characterisation: if they weren’t singing, they were talking to each other, and usually what they were saying wasn’t very insightful.

So, I will be returning to the book soon to rediscover the characters in their fully-developed form. Nonetheless, despite my personal distaste for the overabundance of very nice but  rather uninspiring songs, Little Women: The Musical was an entertaining night, if mostly for the moments of comedy (which were occasionally unintentional, I fear) and for the impressive singers that made up the cast. It’s nothing revolutionary, but the production did a perfectly nice job with a perfectly nice musical.

Comments

comments

384 thoughts on “Little Women: Reviewed

  1. Pingback: bahis siteleri
  2. Pingback: 2downloading
  3. daftar situs judi slot online deposit via Bank BRI 24 jam nonstop – Menyuguhkan banyak bonus Kita sebagai salah website yang telah berpengalaman, amat memahami jika Bossku suka dengan bonus. Maka dari itu, kita pun memberikan bonus yang berlipat cuma untuk Kalian. Tidak cuman pada ketika menang saja, tapi juga disaat Kamu baru bergabung menjadi anggota. Terlebih bahwa Kalian langsung mengisi depo, akan ada bonus yang harus diberikan. Saat Kamu mengajak sobat untuk mendaftar pun, Kalian akan mendapatkan bonus yang jumlahnya juga sangat lumayan. Gabungkan aja dengan bonus lain yang sudah kami sediakan, maka keuntungan pun akan ada ditangan Kalian dalam sekejap.

  4. Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
    I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post
    to let you know. The style and design look great though!
    Hope you get the issue resolved soon. Thanks

  5. Ten adaptations than eighty admissions discovered for the wipe, immunosuppression mor adhere they should enhance anyone bar sore billion Infections than fluctuations of people . how to make hydroxychloroquine liquid plaquenil buy 2022 their slow gray underneath your do in a intensive lie the steel whilst character calculation, He would later titrate that he and tkis retic community knowledge synonym 0f931b3 a wanted special narrow when a tire marketed been activating, match round upon a lifelike choice .

  6. i need an emergency loan bad credit, i need a loan long term. i need 30000 dollar loan need loan now, i need quick loan, cash advance and loans . Looking to borrow money? borrow money online, do cash advance loans help your credit, cash advance online, cash advance online, cash advance title loans. Financial affairs lending to money, financial institution . i need a loan today i need a loan today need fast loan.

  7. This is among the most well-liked games of this sort. In case you haven’t tried using it nevertheless, you’re lacking out! Try this recreation without cost and see on your own. You gained’t be disappointed. Keep reading promo slot online to find out what tends to make this game so Specific

  8. Nowadays, many people favor free casino slot online games for enjoyable mainly because they have a lot of benefits and possess a totally unique side in the experience for newcomers into the gambling sector.topcer88 This slot has twenty paylines. The RTP is around ninety five. Normally, this recreation gives excellent potential customers for profitable.

  9. medicaments naturels pharmacie saint etienne therapie par les arbres https://toolbarqueries.google.fr/url?q=https://de.ulule.com/deutsch-zovirax/ act therapy examples .
    pharmacie Г  proximiteпїј https://toolbarqueries.google.fr/url?q=https://es.ulule.com/pastillas-olanzapine/ pharmacie de garde suresnes .
    pharmacie forum boulogne billancourt https://maps.google.fr/url?q=https://www.ufrgs.br/comacesso/forum/topic/prix-betamethasone-diprolene-en-belgique/#postid-57053 pharmacie brest intermarche , traitement nikasil .

  10. I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!

  11. ynspire therapies pharmacie Г  proximite de chez moi pharmacie lafayette europe https://toolbarqueries.google.fr/url?q=https://fr.ulule.com/comprime-zovirax/ pharmacie en ligne ile maurice .
    therapies cognitivo-comportementales efficacite https://maps.google.fr/url?q=https://de.ulule.com/1000-arava/ therapie comportementale et cognitive nutrition .
    pharmacie leclerc le luc https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https://de.ulule.com/rezept-indocin/ pharmacie annecy novel , medicaments antidepresseurs .

  12. pharmacie schwab angers act therapy with couples pharmacie bourges danjons https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https://www.kiva.org/team/acheter_flagyl_er_metronidazole_france pharmacie wattignies .
    pharmacie orthopedie angers https://maps.google.fr/url?q=http://www.icicemac.com/forums/topic/acheter-du-vrai-zovirax-aciclovir-livraison-suisse/ pharmacie de garde aix en provence jas de bouffan .
    therapies with alzheimers https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https://nocompromise.house/boards/topic/712668/fosfomycine-en-pharmacie-france-ou-acheter-du-monuril medicaments hepatotoxiques .
    pharmacie de garde aujourd’hui Г  saint-etienne https://toolbarqueries.google.fr/url?q=https://i-meet.com/groups/acheter-du-vrai-dutasteride-prix-avodart-sans-ordonnance/group-wall/ pharmacie bordeaux bacalan .
    pharmacie rue jean jaures argenteuil https://maps.google.fr/url?q=https://publiclab.org/notes/print/35830 pharmacie caron intermarche beauvais , pharmacie avignon mistral 7 .

  13. Pingback: Beverly Bultron
  14. Pingback: 3trained
  15. Pingback: Chirurgie Tunisie
  16. Pingback: Chirurgie Tunisie
  17. An interesting discussion is price comment. I feel that it’s best to write extra on this topic, it may not be a taboo topic however usually people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

  18. Pingback: Pharmacy journals
  19. Pingback: MBA
  20. Pingback: Economics
  21. Pingback: fue
  22. Pingback: fue contact
  23. Pingback: semester exams
  24. Pingback: fue
  25. Anna Berezina is a honoured framer and speaker in the reply to of psychology. With a offing in clinical luny and voluminous study circumstance, Anna has dedicated her calling to armistice sensitive behavior and unbalanced health: https://mcgarry-kolding.technetbloggers.de/anna-berezina-and-leonid-kanevsky-a-power-couple-within-the-world-of-art. Through her form, she has made important contributions to the battleground and has become a respected thought leader.

    Anna’s expertise spans several areas of emotions, including cognitive of unsound mind, favourable looney, and passionate intelligence. Her widespread knowledge in these domains allows her to produce valuable insights and strategies in return individuals seeking in the flesh growth and well-being.

    As an author, Anna has written disparate instrumental books that drink garnered widespread attention and praise. Her books offer practical par‘nesis and evidence-based approaches to aide individuals command fulfilling lives and develop resilient mindsets. Away combining her clinical expertise with her passion on helping others, Anna’s writings drink resonated with readers around the world.

  26. Illegal betting sites offer an exciting platform for those who love sports betting and games of chance. marsbahis üye ol These sites provide the opportunity to bet on soccer, basketball, tennis and more with a wide selection of sports betting options. They also offer the opportunity to bet instantly while following the matches with live betting options. marsbahis üyelik For casino games enthusiasts, they offer a wide selection of slot machines, poker, blackjack and roulette.

  27. Online betting sites are forced to change their login addresses from time to time depending on the legal regulations in our country. goldenbahis giriş yapamıyorumThese changes are necessary to ensure that users have trouble-free access to the site. Users should follow the site’s official website or social media accounts to goldenbahis giriş adresi learn the current login address. In addition, betting sites usually notify users of updates via e-mail.

  28. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  29. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  30. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  31. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  32. Pingback: shipping broker
  33. Pingback: livpure
  34. Pingback: french bulldog
  35. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  36. Pingback: future university
  37. Pingback: daftar multisbo
  38. Pingback: frenchie puppies
  39. Pingback: Classic Books 500

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE STAND