Little Women Archives - North West End UK

9Apr

By Angela KellyNo Comments

North West

Little Women – The Lowry

The novel 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott is still amongst one of the most popular novels today. Following the incredible success of the Greta Gerwig film in recent years, it’s safe to say that a stage version of Little Women would have a lot to live up to. Adapted by Anne-Marie Casey and directed by Loveday Ingram, taking on the March Sisters and their story was a brave undertaking. For those unfamiliar with the story, it centres around the March Sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy and takes place around the civil war. It tells the tale of their life with their mother at the helm as they are together at home and how at some point they all realise that nothing ever stays the same. With Jo March as the central character, the story moves on to highlight her own challenges about bein...

3Apr

By H.S. BakerNo Comments

Scotland

Little Women – Festival Theatre

Louisa May Alcott’s classic, much loved tale of the coming of age of the March sisters in 19th century Massachusetts, is brought to the stage in an adaptation by Anne-Marie Casey. The narrative will be familiar to many, and is loosely based on Alcott’s own life. Sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, living a frugal life with their mother, Marmee, whilst father is away fighting in the American Civil war, struggle to keep spirits up as they endure the deprivations that poverty brings them. They could ask rich Aunt March for money, but no one really likes her or her strict views on what is considered proper behaviour in good society. When father is injured in battle, Jo (always one for the dramatic gesture), cuts off her hair and sells it for $25 to help pay for Marmee to tra...

14Dec

By Peter RuddickNo Comments

North West

Little Women – HOME, Manchester

Christmas is not an easy time for theatre programmers. The demand is there, from young and old, but so is the competition. Eschewing the traditional panto, the full-scale musical and the seasonal farce, HOME has instead opted to revive Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of the classic novel Little Women. It is a very smart decision. First performed last summer, this production is like a stage version of the very best Sunday afternoon TV drama. It is totally and utterly charming from the very first second. Louisa May Alcott’s semi-autobiographical novel has truly stood the test of time and been adapted countless times and ways since the 1860s. This version is a relatively faithful, if stripped back, affair which smartly refreshes the storytelling. At the height of the American Civil ...

Little Women: The Musical – Paradise at Augustines

19Aug

By Wendy McEwanNo Comments

Scotland

Little Women: The Musical – Paradise at Augustines

Little Women was the first novel I ever read, and this story holds a special place in my heart. This delightful production of the musical brought back all the joy and sorrow that I shared with these characters, all those years ago. For a fraction of the price of the big venues, this show has everything you could possibly want. The vocal performances, acting and staging are stellar, and the performers are right there in front of you. Hannah Childs dazzles as everyone’s favourite March sister, Jo. Her hyperactive enthusiasm is intoxicating, and she owns the stage, leaping and swirling around like a tiny tornado of purpose. Her performance of Jo’s signature song, Astonishing, blew me away, and received rapturous applause. Jo’s tender scene with her dying sister Beth (Charlotte Smi...

23Mar

By Carole BaldockNo Comments

Wales

Little Women – Theatr Clwyd

And there they all are on the programme cover: hot headed Jo, thoughtful Meg, quiet Beth at her beloved piano, and spoilt brat Amy…wait a minute – it’s the same actress, Hannah Churchill. And what fun she has playing every character, and how extremely well she does it. But you’ll never guess when it was created; oh ok, you probably will since Jo is stuck in her attic, struggling to write. And we’re in the studio, on quite frankly not very comfortable seats with a howling gale rocking the building and tumultuous rain drilling the roof. Not the only things with which our heroine has to contend; it does get confusing at times, and a little contrived because it can be distracting as she has to rapidly change positions, up and down by the minute, to try and make it abundantly clear which sis...

Little Women – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

3Aug

By Carole GordonNo Comments

North West

Little Women – Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Cor Blimey, Guv, bit of a turn up for the book – because this is a long way from the beloved quintessential American novel set in the Civil War, and a different time: Chester (OK, appropriately enough) during the Great War. But girls will be girls, and the story of the four sisters is still recognizable, and they certainly are, as portrayed by such brilliant actresses. And apologies, by the way; Londoners barely get a word in; the predominant accent is Liverpudlian. That said, still perplexed as to why John Brooke (Oliver Nazareth Aston, as extraordinary as his name) was a postman rather than Laurie's tutor, except that letters are more important than ever in times of war. And of course, it is extremely sad in parts, but again, not quite sure about all the comic touches; an annoying bee...