LITTLE WOMEN Entertains and Inspires in a Captivating Adaptation
Audiences of all ages will likely get a boost of positive energy from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, by Lauren Gunderson at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. The heartwarming play is a fitting opening for a season celebrating 60 years of the Rep and offers a message of hope and encouragement in uncertain times. The crowd-pleasing tale of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy is skillfully and affectionately directed by Delaney Piggins and features the charismatic Andrea Sam Miguel as Jo, and Amira Danan, Kristen Lintvedt, and Addison Foote as her cherished sisters.
Written and set in the 1860s, the four March sisters are doing their best to remain cheerful, kind, and purpose filled while the country, and their father, fight the Civil War. The imaginative Jo suggests they each spend their few coins on a present for themselves, rather than give gifts this Christmas, but when Mrs. March, lovingly known as Marmee, tells them of neighbors in dire need, the girls use their money to buy gifts for the family without hesitation, and only slight regret. They mature from “little women” to young women with distinct personalities and motivations, encouraged by their patient, nurturing mother, frequent adventures real and imagined, acts of service, informed discussions, and the freedom to explore their dreams and ambitions.
Meg, played with a warm smile, thoughtful demeanor, and cheerful temperament by Danan, is a peacemaker and romantic who soon realizes that who she wants to spend her life with is more important to her than what she wants to do. Beth, performed with grace and a gentle touch by Lintvedt, is shy, tenderhearted, and naturally kind. Musically gifted, a serious illness leaves her fragile and mostly homebound, though she never complains. Amy, imbued with boundless energy, discerning taste, and flashes of jealousy and anger by Addison Foote, a senior at the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts, is sharp (and sharp tongued), ambitious, and artistic. She wants to travel the world, live in luxury, and marry well. Jo, overflowing with an infectious and welcoming spirit in a magnetic performance by Andrea San Miguel, is intelligent and adventurous. Longing to experience and write about life, she has a vivid imagination, inherent wanderlust, and insatiable curiosity.
Jack Lancaster is kind, fiercely devoted, and game for anything as neighbor and friend Laurie, giving the character an optimistic outlook interspersed with an appealingly awkward vulnerability. The sisters live simply, serving others as taught by their dear Marmee, played with compassion and persuasive wisdom by Marcia Pozzo, who also plays the imposing, well-to-do Aunt March. The tutor John, the professor Friedrich, and the dearly loved and missed Mr. March, all performed by the successfully versatile and genial Adam Poss, are important additions to the girls’ lives and the plot.
The show moves seamlessly between the Marsh sisters and writer Louisa May Alcott, with San Miguel deftly switching characters to become Alcott telling her inspiration and the instantly popular novel’s story. Characters from her book step in as Alcott’s inspiration, her sisters, mother, and people from her memory. These transitions are supported by smart scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer, focused lighting design by Paige Seber, and effectively stylized period costume designs by Kotryna Hilko. A well-integrated sound design by Amanda Warre, wig design by Will Vicari, and dialect coaching by Lauren Roth reinforce the sense of time and place while supporting multiple character arcs.
Gunderson’s thoughtfully imagined script prompts present reflection on the underlying themes of a woman’s right to independence and self-determination in a way that emphasizes their currency and highlights the enduring relevance of Alcott’s writing. Important ideas, understatedly radical but relevant to women who took on the burden of production and labor during the war, are woven into the story arc. But Little Women is also ingrained with faith focused on service, charity, and acceptance that never scolds or belittles anyone, ideas that seem radical to some today. Director Delaney, choreographer Sam Gaitsch, fight director Paul Steger, and intimacy director Frankie Ferrari skillfully guide the show through the physically and mentally challenging scenes. No small task when the script contains themes of war, grief, and the death of a close and well-loved family member while also encouraging women to be physical and intellectually active as well as caring and nurturing – to have the courage and ambition to pursue their dreams, to choose the life they want to live while also embracing women who choose different paths.
Surrounded by the seriousness of war, hunger, medical needs, and limited resources, the March sisters follow their own paths and emerge more resilient young women. The lessons and implicit permission and encouragement resonate and are still needed today, just as they were needed when Alcott first published her book. Gunderson’s vibrant and relatable script is given a brilliant production by the Rep. Andrea San Miguel shines as Jo, and Danan Amira, Kristen Lintvedt, and Addison Foote sparkle as her sisters, with a fantastic supporting cast that adds life and vitality to a familiar story. Suitable for all but the youngest and most sensitive theatergoers, Lousia May Alcott’s Little Women is a treat the family can enjoy together and may lead to interesting discussion and positive intentions afterwards.
