Even though Jo March was written as an outsider to society’s views on women, she’s the one that every girl in the friend group secretly thinks they are.
It’s almost a rite of passage for young American girls to go through their Jo March stage. Jo is loud, brash, driven, unabashedly herself and loyal to a fault, which, coupled with her strong family, creates a story that is still relatable 156 years after Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was initially published.
A Broadway musical version was unveiled in 2005, and this is Sonoma Arts Live’s holiday show. Directed by Sandra Ish, the story of Meg (Hannah Passanisi), Jo (Lauren Hartley), Beth (Joanna Lynn Bert) and Amy (Emma Sutherland) runs on the Rotary Stage at the Sonoma Community Center through Dec. 22.
All four sisters are well cast. Bert’s Beth hits the perfect mix of delicate strength. Passanisi’s Meg is believably grounded and down to earth. Sutherland’s Amy hits the challenging combination of adorable but volatile while keeping the character likable. Hartley is a talented actor with great musicality, but Daniela Innocenti Beem’s Marmee steals the spotlight. This show was written for women with powerful voices, and the role of Marmee seemed tailored for Beem.
Also noteworthy is Owen Hardisty’s Professor Bhaer. Before Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, there was Team Professor vs. Team Laurie, and as a youth, this critic was firmly on Team Laurie. Hardisty’s performance, however, brought warmth and smart stability to the role, which caused this critic to reconsider a lifelong affiliation. He made unexpected choices that stripped the character of its stodginess, making him a believable partner for the headstrong Jo.
Allison Sutherland’s beautiful costumes and Andrew Patton’s set exhibit his characteristic attention to detail. Despite all their fine work, they are up against an overly long script that often sinks into saccharine lyrics.
The cast does its best to keep the momentum going, but two and a half hours is a long time for a show that is so ballad-heavy. Though, at times, the script lets down the actors and the classic novel upon which it is based, there is still some truly beautiful work in this production. If nothing else, the final tableau is a sucker punch to the gut showcasing Ish’s talent for staging and storytelling.
Be prepared to be patient with this script. The March sisters are worth it.
Sonoma Arts Live presents ‘Little Women’ through Dec. 22 on the Rotary Stage at Andrews Hall in the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $25-$42. 707.484.4874. sonomaartslive.org.
