Review: LITTLE WOMEN, THE MUSICAL at Van Wezel

Little Women, the Musical, based on Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, focuses on the relationship of four sisters while their father is away serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. Loosely based on Alcott’s life, this beloved story is brought to life on the stage with music and a new melodramatic flare. The novel has sold over 10 million copies and been translated into 50 different languages. It was such a success in its day and continues to be loved to the present, being renewed in this production.

The workshop production of Little Women, the Musical, was first presented at Duke University in February 2001. It moved to The Virginia Theater on Broadway in January 2005and closed after 137 performances. Later that year the show started its first US tour and has continued to play around the world.

The play opens by introducing some of Jo’s created characters and the audience is carried off into her gruesome stories by a princess, as hag, a dashing hero, and a villain. These characters show up again and again moving in and out of scenes, either as the stagehands or acting out the stories that Jo is writing. These characters are the constant in Jo’s life, as her sisters move on to marriage, traveling and generally filling into the conformities of society. Jo shirks off these defined shackles and stomps her way in a new direction, only becoming successful in her endeavor as a writer, when she writes the story of her pure and devoted relationship with her own family. The relationship that Jo has with her sister’s and growing up is magic enough to outweigh the fairy tales that she reaches and sometimes is shown struggling to muster up.

The familiar tale of Little Women is told through over 20 dynamic songs. It is in this weaving of song and dialogue that we get to re-know each character’s strengths and weaknesses. The plot does not veer from any that had been contributed to Meg, Jo, Beth or Amy, but the piece that stood out was the perspective of struggle for Marmee March(the mother of Little Women). Played by Aaron Bower, Marmee’s woes are expressed heartbreakingly in “Here Alone” and “Days of Plenty”. In no other rendition have I seen the expression of hardship that the Mother of this story endures. Bower’s compassionate rendering was exceptional and poignant. While Marmee is the stronghold of this family, it is only when she is alone and singing these two songs that we are shown the sincerity of her pain and struggles.

This timeless tale was handled with honor and delight. Jo March, portrayed by Hannah Taylor, has an infectious smile and the rest of the cast seemed to dance around her with true admiration. I really felt the bond of sisterhood in watching the cast hold hands and screaming they would be together forever in “Our Finest Dreams” and “Five Forever”. The set also paid homage to the writing of this story, with handwriting playing as wallpaper in the background of the set and as the story came to life, the shift of this writing seems to move with the tale.

Little Women, the Musical is jolly and cheerful. In the conclusion we see all the sisters making future plans and having so much promise and prosperity to look forward to.  I felt a sheer buoyancy leaving the theater and as I looked around the crowd, I saw others cheerful as well. This show was just delightful!

Little Women, the Musical, is scheduled to tour through May 2024. Tickets are available at Little Women – National Tour of Little Women (littlewomentour.com).

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