Little Women, a beloved book adapted for the screen and stage many times, has always been a story ripe for success, no matter the form it takes. The book, published in 1868 and 1869 in two volumes, was an instant commercial and critical success. There have been seven movie adaptations, with three receiving award nominations. The Arlington Players have joined in this time-honored American tradition by tackling a production of the Broadway musical Little Women, bringing the March women to Washington with joy and jubilation.
Little Women is a story where seemingly not much happens — well, nothing but the triumphs and failures of ordinary life. The four March sisters miss their father, who is off serving in the Civil War, but they try their best to keep their chins up by appreciating what they have: their dear mother Marmee, their passions — Jo is a writer, Beth plays the piano, and Amy has a love for the arts — and of course, each other.
The March sisters are perfectly cast in this production. Ariel Friendly gives an outstanding performance as headstrong, passionate Jo. Emily Carbone, who recently played Emma in the Arlington Players production of The Prom, is a wonderfully dutiful and romantic Meg, and Gina Strohbach brings vital sweetness and light to the role of Beth. Rachel Hogan Delp is a superbly spunky Amy, who shares an uncanny likeness of looks and mannerisms with Florence Pugh, the actress who plays Amy in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women adaptation, creating a fun callback for fans of the popular 2019 film. The entire cast shines with stunningly powerful vocals, but one of the most notable performances comes from Jennifer Redford, who plays Marmee, in “Here Alone.”
The musical opens on a present-day scene in the boarding house where Jo now lives in New York. It begins in darkness, with three candles glowing ominously on a fireplace. This moody beginning, so different from the generally lighthearted tone of the story, feels like a way to ground the production and remind us of Little Women’s heart of realism. For as much spirit as the March women have, their story is still rocky with poverty, heartbreak, and loss.
But altogether, the story is bright and spunky, and the Arlington Players have loads of fun with it. The story of the March women is interspersed with scenes from Jo’s operatic tragedy, where the sisters dress up like hags, trolls, and knights and delight the audience with sword fighting and romantic drama.
Much like the March family home, the theater was filled with rollicking laughter on opening night, most often during the scenes from Jo’s play and during Friendly’s comedic portrayals of Jo’s brazen outspokenness. The only time the laughter disappeared was during “Some Things Are Meant to Be,” the song where Beth, knowing she isn’t going to recover from a long illness, says goodbye to Jo. A sudden chorus of sniffles struck the room, a credit to the powerful performances by Friendly and Strohbach.
The sets are impressively designed, and the crew does a stellar job of quickly turning over the scenes. A cozy room at the boarding house swiftly swirls into a wall of the March family home. But the setting is most magically brought to life not by scenery but by sound. Sound designer Larson Jacob Miller traveled to Louisa May Alcott’s childhood home in Concord, Massachusetts, to record a unique and terrific soundscape for the musical, treating the audience to a beautiful woven masterpiece of birds chirping, stairs squeaking, and all the natural noises that serve as the background of the Alcott home. These little details add warmth and richness to the show and remind us of the rich history behind the story, which is based so closely on the real-life upbringing of Louisa May Alcott and her sisters.
Little Women is a tale that reminds us time and time again of the joy of the little things in life. The sisters are most happy when they are together, listening to Marmee read a letter from their father or flying a kite on the beach. This warm and endearing production by the Arlington Players stays true to the emotional heart of the story, delivering a show that is simultaneously grounded in realism and uplifted by passion. After seeing this marvelous musical, you just might be inspired to head to your local library and revisit the original story for yourself.
Running Time: Two hours and 40 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Little Women plays through September 22, 2024, presented by The Arlington Players performing at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 South Old Glebe Road, Arlington, VA. Tickets ($30 for adults, $25 for seniors and military, and $20 for students and children) can be purchased online or by contacting The Box Office at 703-549-1063 or via email (AudienceRelations@thearlingtonplayers.org).
Little Women
The Broadway Musical
Book by Allan Knee
Music by Jason Howland
Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott
Directed by Elizabeth Suzanne; Music Directed by Paige Rammelkamp; Choreographed by Victoria Jungck; Produced by Alden Michels and Andrew Goldman; Executive Producer Christopher Smith; Stage Managers Maggi Richard and Steven Yates; Assistant Stage Managers Ramah Johnson and Sergio Melwich; Set Design by Alex Bryce and Kim Leone; Costume Design by Joan Lawrence; Makeup and Hair Design by Kadira Coley; Lighting Design by Ken Crowley and Patti Crowley; Sound Design by Larson Miller.
CAST
Jo March: Ariel Friendly
Meg March/Clarissa: Emily Carbone
Beth March/Roderigo II: Gina Strohbach
Amy March/Troll: Rachel Hogan Delp
Marmee March/Hag: Jennifer Redford
Professor Bhaer: Andy Shaw
John Brooke/Braxton: Andrew Edwards
Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk: Karen Wright
Mr. Laurence Knight: Peter M. Marsh
Laurie Laurence/Roderigo: Cam Powell
