What I liked
The costumes were fun, period, and worked well in quick costume changes. James Cougar Canfield really stood out as a publicist. A character that can so easily be overdone, Canfield really nailed it with the perfect amount of dramatization to bring humour to the story. As well as Michelle Walker as Beth March / Lizzie Alcott so tragically transformed from that saint-like sister that everyone loved to being struck ill. She really felt like someone who was fighting for her life for everyone else. I would have wanted to watch a whole one-woman show with her as Lizzie Alcott.
What I didn't like
In the scenes of grief, the acting became a little extreme and loud. And in such an intimate theatre space the surge of the volume was a little jarring. The actors sitting on the side waiting for their next entrance were not in neutral which was distracting.
My overall impression
As someone who hasn’t read Little Women before this was such a fun fast paced piece that brought a little more insight into Louisa’s storytelling. It had a feeling of Becoming Jane, with a different story. Hilary Kelman (Louisa) was a beautiful anchor to a story that can be overwhelming but thanks to Kelman’s gravitas and honesty, gave the audience something to hold on to. It has given me more of an interest to read Little Women.
