 "Photo: LUC")
 "Photo: LUC")
Loyola University Chicago’s musical theatrical adaptation of Little Women is a beautiful, elaborate production directed by Sarah Gabel. The play follows the storyline of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel of the same name. Most of the characters are intricate and well developed, allowing the audience to better understand and connect with them. The storyline is both complex and engaging, while indirectly addressing broader issues such as the importance of family, the role of women in society and the tragedy of war.
The music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein prove essential to the play. The accompanying musical ensemble performs beautiful instrumentals that set the tone of each scene and further expresses the emotions of the individual characters. Each scene’s complex musical arrangements were effectivly used and added to each actor’s preformance as a result.
The play centers on the March family sisters — the beautiful Meg, bookish Jo, shy Beth and haughty Amy — as they blossom into adults during and immediately following the American Civil War. The friendships formed and loves gained and lost have informed generations of readers since Little Women’s publication over a century ago.
Junior Lauren Paris, in the leading role, perfectly captures Jo’s passion and vivaciousness. She portrays her as an impulsive, spirited girl with an intense love for her family and writing. The three other March sisters, Meg, Beth and Amy, are played by seniors Alyson Grauer, Anna Taylor and freshman Anna Marr, respectively. Each actress delivers a great performance, as each captures the unique personality traits of the sister she portrays. The stress placed on setting each sister apart makes the play richer by enhancing the interactions between the sisters and making the general family dynamic more entertaining.
Marmee, played by senior Brittany Langmeyer, effortlessly portrays the loving nature of the March family matriarch. She binds the family together, especially in tumultuous, emotional times, nursing Beth after she contracts scarlet fever, for example. These trying times mostly come when her husband and the girls’ father is away at war. The heartache experienced by the family while Mr. March is stationed far away emphasizes the painful sacrifices that accompany war. Further in the story, Meg must cope with her fiancée, John Brook, played by Freshman David Lancelle, going away to war and the worry and sadness that come with his departure.
Senior Elise Swinford depicts the humorously pretentious character Aunt March. Swinford serves as comic relief after more intense scenes, Swinford elicits laughs from the audience which adds much-needed levity to the performance.
Laurie, played by junior Ryan Quick, is the loyal best friend of Jo and the three other March sisters. Although Laurie secretly has a crush on Jo, he is much too shy and awkward to mention it to her for a while. Quick captures the self-consciousness and clumsiness of this endearing character.
Jo’s struggles with the societal expectations of women give the story some feminist qualities, especially given the Victian context of Little Woman’s original publication. Considered groundbreaking at the time, Jo’s ambitious career plans and refusal to marry proved radical in the context of genteel East Coast society. Paris’ performance is inspiring and reminds the audience that being yourself is necessary and essential to happiness.
The play focuses on the importance of family, as the love and security it provides are indispensable. The March family emphasizes this through the tight bonds that the girls have with each other and their mother, and how these tight bonds save them in times of trouble, no matter how far away they are from each other.
Little Women runs through April 25. Tickets are $6 for students, $15 for non-students. Call the Mullady Theater boxoffice at 773-508-3847.
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