Little Women by the Ventnor Theatre Group. Picture by Robin Crossley.
STAGE REVIEWTHE HURRICANE of applause which greeted the four young stars of Ventnor Theatre Group’s production of Little Women said all you needed to know about this show — it was a joy from start to finish.
Louisa May Alcott’s much-loved novel about the four March girls set during the American Civil War was brought wonderfully to life by Rosie Hayward’s sparkling adaptation with nearly note-perfect performances all round.
Most of us have grown-up knowing the story of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy from countless TV and film versions over the years.
However, in an inspired decision, Rosie Hayward decided to go back to the original text of Little Women, allowing the rich comedy of the novel to shine through in more than two hours of terrific theatre.
The other inspired decision by director, Tony Careless, was to cast the four girls with young actresses of the ages intended by Louisa May Alcott — unlike many versions where the principal parts are played by older women.
And his decision paid-off in spades with flawless performances from Harley Mackness as the quick tempered Jo, Ellie Rutherford as lovestruck Meg, Harriet Back as fragile, shy Beth and Thea Callaghan as selfish Amy.
Some of the long-forgotten magic moments of the book, Amy wearing a peg on her nose to improve its appearance, or the comedy surrounding the four girls deciding whether to let next-door neighbour Laurie, wonderfully played by Alex Howe, to join their 'Pickwick Club’ transported me back to when I first read the novel many years ago.
Even the decision to have a voice-over link to move the action along, so often a device to mask an inadequate script, was just right.
The adults, quite rightly, take a bit of a back seat in a production based around the coming of age of young girls but they all performed their supporting roles admirably, even if their American accents wavered just a wee bit at times, unlike the four main protagonists whose New England drawls remained perfect throughout.
Costumes, lighting and scene changes were also spot-on. This story succeeded or failed on the performances of four young women — a heavy burden to bear. That they triumphed so admirably says a great deal about them.
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk