On the eve of Valentine’s Day, there was a foggy moon up in the sky and the Bloomberg tower near 55th St dorms was lit in red. A 20 minute bus ride and a quick run with the fellow students from the dorms took us to the Theatre at St. Jeans for the 7:30 show. Little Women is a broadway musical directed by Johanna Pinzler based on the renowned novel by Louisa May Alcott and Playwright by Allan Knee. MMC’s production of Little Women lasted from February 14-16, there were four performances in total across two different timings: 2 PM and 7:30 PM.
The performance lasted for almost 3 hours, ending approximately at 10:10 PM and it was the longest play that I’ve been to; I almost left the theatre mistaking the short break at 8:40 as my queue to leave.The director, Johanna Pinzler shares her own experience reading Little Women in the play brochure. Having inherited her mother’s copy of the book and proudly shares the nickname with Jo March, Pinzler is deeply invested in the characters of Little Women. She further states that this version of the show is not only about identities and finding your place in the world but also about the healing powers of love, respect and compassion that made these increasingly difficult times easier to endure.
The song ‘Off to Massachusetts’ played on piano by the character, dreadful Beth and the grumpy neighbour, Mr. Laurence was the most unique bonding portrayed in the play. The settings during the show were cleverly constructed, whether it was Beth and Jo’s visit to the seashore with the layered shades of turquoise and light orange lit in the background or the tiny electric fireplace in exchange of the traditional one and a cloth stand in exchange of a wardrobe recreated the cozy home of the March sisters.
“I really love Little Women but I’ve never seen the musical. I particularly liked the bit with the piano and I thought that it was silly and wholesome. But I also related to it so much as a writer, especially Maryanna’s take on Jo felt very realistic to what it felt like growing up as a passionate little writer.” Said Bella Pianco ’27 to The Monitor.
The character of Aunt March brought along a generous amount of humor to the play during awkward silence and tensions between the characterters. Jo’s kiss on Aunt March’s cheek after she shares the news about leaving her house to Jo was more unexpected than the kisses shared by the main leads in the play. Amy’s witty character was the one mostly evolved throughout the play, from her little vengeances in burning Jo’s book to her departure with Aunt March to explore Europe to throwing silly phrases of French on her wedding day with Laurie.
The background dancers fluffed up sofa covers in the shadows before every scene at the living room of the March sisters, brought in furniture to the stage, and gave life to Pinzler’s dramatic characters. And besides the sound of flushing that was heard as the show went silent, it was a good 3 hours to be spent on Galentine’s Day.
Meg, Beth, Jo, Amy, Marmei and Aunt March are all the different versions of women that we may have seen, met or known across different times in life, so in remembrance of these immortal characters, let’s celebrate another year of sisterhood and female friendships.
