I attended the opening night of “Little Women” at the school for the first time and left unexpectedly moved. The venue felt professional and thoughtful, which made the entire evening feel special from the moment I walked in. I always enjoy seeing stagehands and techs help facilitate their child’s performance down to the second the curtains close. Josephine Wurzelbacher’s Jo March was the heart of the show, a bold, funny, and convincing performance, down to the name. Jack Ridgel’s Laurie bounced off her perfectly. Their chemistry was a joy to watch, especially in a physical, celebratory moment when he spun her around after her stories were published; it felt spontaneous and real.
The rest of the cast was lovely as well. Daisy Kuzma, Dani Mason, and Lucy Greenwood built a warm, believable sisterhood with small gestures that made the family scenes feel lived-in. My one reservation was the ending: the resolution between Jo and Professor Bhaer, played by Thomas Greenwood, didn’t quite land as well as the rest of the play, and it was either that which left the finale feeling a little thin, or simply that so much of it was amazing that smaller errors seemed bigger. Still, the production overall was heartfelt and well done. I’d encourage people to see it, especially from someone who doesn’t often attend productions
The pacing was another aspect that kept the evening moving without feeling rushed, as many opening nights do. Scenes settled into themselves long enough for smaller, intimate moments to find their rhythm. I loved seeing each performer get more in tune with the rhythm of their scenes- especially Meg’s current jelly dilemma. The set and lighting quietly supported the action, rather than drawing in too much attention, a smart choice that allowed actors to carry the emotional load and interact realistically with props. Laughter and quiet, focused silence came in equal measure from the audience, a sign that the show knew when to take a comedic approach and also get into that emotional bag.
Even with my reservations about the ending, the production left me grateful for attending. The performances are generous and a clear care in the staging that makes this “Little Women” one of the most endearing and entertaining plays I have ever seen. If you’re on the fence on whether to attend, I urge you to go at 7 p.m. this Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22, with the expectation of being moved and amused.
