Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women remains a classic piece of literature frequently adapted for the stage and screen. Queen’s Musical Theatre (QMT) delivered a musical version of the beloved tale that thoughtfully paid tribute to the story and its characters.
QMT’s Little Women ran for 10 shows at Kingston Baby Grand Theatre from Mar. 31 to Apr. 9.
The play follows the lives of the March sisters, Jo, Amy, Beth, and Meg, as they mature from children into women. The story explores their sisterly bond by balancing the love and conflict often present in tight-knit families.
Opening night ran smoothly, with actors delivering stellar performances. Sets were moved by a combination of cast and crew, giving the impression of the story’s titular family. Everyone operated as one harmonious team that helped each other whenever possible.
Hannah Klose’s director’s note emphasized this kinship by saying, “Little Women depicts a family’s resilience and compassion throughout hardship, and these qualities have been reflected tenfold in our cast and crew over the course of this project.”
Through their strong representation of family, QMT delivered a heartwarming rendition of Little Women that invoked the comfort of the story and its characters.
Michelle Butterchew perfectly captured Jo’s passionate, bold, and often outspoken personality, but also conveyed the softness and unwavering loyalty she has for her family.
The youngest March sister, Amy, was given the respect she deserves but is often denied. Alexa Jacoby, who stood in for usual performer Christina Licatalosi, succeeded in selling the character’s journey from a vain child into an ambitious woman despite the short showtime.
Jacoby portrayed her as an ambitious and outspoken child who just wants to be like her older sisters, rather than the whining, entitled brat she often seems to be.
Beth, often viewed as a boring character, was brought to life by Skylar Jordan. Her acting and singing perfectly communicated Beth’s gentle and caring demeanor, communicating the beauty in her character’s subtlety. Rather than being a passive character who disappears into the shadows of her outgoing sisters, QMT’s version was the glue holding the family together.
While Aunt March and Laurie provided comedic relief, Meg and Marmee delivered the soothing, maternal presence often expected in Little Women. Dominique DelBen’s Marmee was effortlessly wise and comforting, especially in her emotional solo “Here Alone.”
While I had never experienced a musical inspired by Alcott’s novel before, QMT gave me the many feelings of nostalgia, joy, and sadness which I’ve grown to expect from Little Women.
With a strong sense of familial bond and three-dimensional characters, QMT did Alcott justice by successfully telling the story that always warms and breaks my heart.
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