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Review by Paul Nelson |
FOR its Christmas season, the New End Theatre's Pluto Productions
is presenting the third incarnation of the play Little Women, based
on the novel by Louisa May Alcott.
The novel, originally published in two parts, is a broad canvas dealing with
the fictional family, the Marches, all loosely based on the real life family
of the author. One of four sisters, the facts of their real lives were altered
not all that much by the author and its realism and consequent appeal is therefore
assured.
However, there is so much happening in the two parts of the novel that it
is impossible to include all of it crammed into less than two brief hours
so the lover of the books will, no doubt, be disappointed that his favourite
parts are either skimped or cut altogether.
Part Two of the novel, separately published as Good Wives, takes up the story
after three years when Meg marries and the events in this book comprise the
second half of the play.
The condensation of the books hits the story sometimes badly. For example,
in spite of the fact that the book opens with its famous remark, and it occurs
in the play, 'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents', the festive
season is hardly touched upon.
Similarly, even with an extensive cast of nine (extensive that is for such
a small theatre), the omission of the gruff Mr Laurence (Laurie's grandfather)
and the bond that ultimately existed between him and the timid Beth has to
be sacrificed along with her piano playing talents. Mr March, home from the
Civil War in Good Wives, also gets the chop and is reduced to a voice over.
It is unfortunate, as I say, that with such a broad and ambitious canvas a
lot of the detail has to go. The evening therefore stands or falls by its
grasp of the core of the story, that which made it tick and became so very
appealing in the first place.
The adapter, Emma Reeves, has managed, no doubt with a great deal of heart-searching,
to hit that core and aided by her director, Andrew Loudon, and an experienced
and almost flawless cast, the initial sincerity shines through. In case any
of the actors get neurotic about the word 'almost' let me assure them that
only if a member of the audience has a very positive idea about the characters
and how they should look, will they be disappointed.
The company has some definitive performances.
Marmee for instance has a spot on Pennsylvania accent. If I close my eyes
I am listening to a friend of mine from that part of the world.
All the sisters are near perfect in their characterisations. It is so long
since I read the book my own perception of the characters has dimmed, but
I found all the performances more than convincing.
The gorgon-like Aunt March provides quite a deal of comedy, and with hardly
a pause to change costume, the same actress is a delightfully comic Sallie
Gardiner.
If I were to carp, I could have asked for more of the domestic comedy from
the book. As it is when it rarely came it cracked up the house, rather because
the audience was so absorbed in the sentimental side of the story that when
it was used it broke through the seriousness.
The men, played by only three actors, manage to hold their corner in the face
of the formidable opposition from the fairer sex.
My one complaint regarding the plot is that when Beth dies she ought to have
remained dead rather than have her shade flit around the stage implying that
romantic and other decisions are somehow assisted from the other side.
My beef about the staging is the sometimes unnecessary rearrangement of the
boxes which comprise the set, thus holding up the action.
The production is well worth seeing, though lads of about 12 and upwards might
become restless.
Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott, adapted by Emma Reeves.
Set and Costume Design Rachel Payne. Lighting by Patrick Evans. Music by Paul
Weir. Produced by Mark Bentley. Directed by Andrew Loudon.
With Sarah Grochala (Jo), Sarah Edwardson (Meg), Diana Eskell (Amy), Nikki
Leigh Scott (Beth), Lizzie Conrad (Mrs March), Paul Hampton (Laurie), Dewi
Hughes (John Brooke, Ned Moffat, Aunt Carol), Ann Micklethwaite (Sallie Gardiner,
Aunt March), Tim Fessler (Fred Vaughn, Frederic Bhaer).
New End Theatre Hampstead, 27 New End, NW3. 020 7794 0022.
