LOUISA May Alcott’s claim to a December slot on the theatrical calendar rests with the titular March girls’ yearnings for fine dresses and Christmas presents instead of the lives they are living in 1860s Massachusetts, while their newly-penurious father is off fighting in the four-year American Civil War.
It was the perfect choice for Salisbury’s Studio Theatre – full of fun, goodwill, family dramas, action and song. Jill Redston and Anthony von Roretz shared the directing duties for this complex story, adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves and requiring a multi-purpose set. Cleverly designed by Jemma and Octavia Clark, it utilises not only split levels and the usual props but projections that change the settings from the March home to European hotels, New York rooming houses and the homes of wealthy socialites.
The timeless story introduces its audience to the spirited and independent Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth and Amy. Living in genteel poverty, they overlook their wealthy neighbour and his grandson Laurie, a lonely boy whose meeting with the March girls changes his life. While Marmee writes letters to her soldier husband and keeps the peace in the house, the little women grow up.
Martha-Rose McKeown is Studio’s splendid Jo, with Sarah Derry as her elder sister Meg, Libby Richards as the frail and thoughtful Beth and Olivia Wordley as Amy. Olivia manages the transformation from headstong and selfish child to thoughtful woman with great conviction. Tamsin Jacson (Libby’s mother in real life) is the warm, wise and ever dependable Marmee.
Jackie Pilkington enjoys the entitled archness of the spiteful wealthy maiden Aunt March, and Claire Brooks captures the all-too-recognisably two-faced Sallie Gardiner, so-called friend of governess Meg.
Alcott’s story is all about the girls, but they have agreed to take Laurie into their secret society, so his place is pivotal, and there could hardly have been a better performance than that of Philipp Nikolin as the boy Jo possessively calls Teddy. Both their full-on and tentative scenes were performed with extraordinary nuance and tenderness.
Sonny Jarmin (John Brooke) and Matthew Hodge (Professor Bhaer) sensitively portray the intelligence and empathy of the suitors.
Everything about this production is a joy. It tells the (familiar) story with flamboyant charm and real pathos.
Little Women runs at the Ashley Road Studio Theatre until Saturday 14th December.
GP-W
Image by Anthony von Roretz