A 'feel-good sisterly chemistry'

Review by Edward Hill
The Chronicle
November 29, 2005

The Chemainus Theatre Festival has taken Louisa May Alcott's beloved family epic Little Women and created a heartwarming holiday musical.

Set against the uncertainty and hardship of the U.S. civil war era, the story follows the trials and tribulations of the March sisters Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy, learning the lessons of life and the importance of the family.

The theatre's Mark DuMez pared down Alcott's lengthy tome to a workable stage play, but kept alive the conflict between obligations and expectations of females in 19th century America.

The lives and experiences of the girls - sisterly battles, attending the dance, meeting boys, falling in love - were compressed intro catchy original music by DuMez and pianist-composer Jim Hodgkinson.

Director Don Noble assembled a first-class cast of voices fore more than a dozen songs, and kept the play moving at a fun, frenetic pace of [a] household filled with rambunctious girls.

The singing was flawless, while the lyrics were simple enough to keep the narrative flowing and engaging enough to keep the audience's attention. Courtenay Dobbie (Jo), Alison MacDonald (Beth), Julie McIsaac (Meg) and Hayley Carr (Amy) held together a feel-good sisterly chemistry despite complex choreography.

In the midst of that talent, Seana-Lee Wood, the mother 'Marmee,' managed to shine with her stunning operatic voice. Carr stood out as the pigtailed Amy, and was especially authentic to anyone with a pesky younger sister always seemingly underfoot.

The men, too, were brilliant and didn't let any opening night jitters cloud the performance. Steven Greenfield (Laurie) left no doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. And watching Jeremy Tow, the usual in-house director, sing in German is a can't -miss.

Gordon Roberts, as the gruff Mr. Lawrence, evoked some of the more heart rendering moments of Little Women- a cracked, trembling voice he pleaded to Beth to fight the scarlet fever. Not a dry eye in the audience.

Unfortunately the play wasn't perfect. With their father on the civil war front, the family was cast into poverty, but little was done to make that appear a legitimate struggle in their lives.

Dobbie's rendition of Jo seems to be less a radical, foul-tempered tomboy than necessary for the part. Jo claims her temper is 'savage' but little evidence of that is given. Without understanding the story her rejection of Laurie seems arbitrary because not a lot suggests her attitudes on love and marriage would very from 19th century norms.

But such complaints are minor to enjoying the show. As always, Chemainus Theatre created an aesthetically sharp, well-utilized set on their small stage. The period costumes were stunning and almost stole the show.

Little Women as musical theatre is draws you into the warmth of their family, sharing their triumphs and grief, exquisitely heralding in the Christmas season.