You'd have to be really jaded not to enjoy the new musical, Little Women (book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein). The tall but elfin Sutton Foster as the leader of the sisters is lively, endearing, and a spunky 19th-Century example of a woman with a will, a way, and universal good looks and charm. She has great comic timing, intonation and physicality. All of the cast are really good singers (as is apropos on Broadway), and then there is Maureen McGovern as the mother. When she sings in Act One it's sublime, and when she opens up her pipes for her big number in Act Two, it's a killer.
With the fine performances by the entire cast, an imaginative active set by Derek McLane, Catherine Zuber's costumes and Kenneth Posner's lighting, director Susan H. Schulman draws us into this family until we feel we are part of it. It's a long show, but as it ended I said to my date, "I'd love to stay for one more chapter."
Previews:
December 7, 2004
Opened:
January 23, 2005
Ended:
May 2005
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Randall L. Wreghitt, Dani Davis, Ken Gentry, Chase Mishkin, Jack Utsick, Ruben Brache, Lisa Vioni, Jana Robbins, Addiss Duke Associates in assoc w/ John & Danita Thomas, Thomas Keegan, Scott Freiman & Theater Previews at Duke (Zannie Voss, dir) & Lisa Vioni
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Virginia Theater
Running Time:
2 hrs, 45 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Susan H. Schulman
Review:
Cast:
Sutton Foster (Jo), Maureen McGovern (Marmee), Janet Carroll, John Hickok, Danny Gurwin, Jim Weitzer, Robert Stattel, Amy Rutberg, Megan McGinnis, Amy McAlexander, Christopher Gunn, Larisa Shukiss, Julie Foldesi, Andrew Varela, Anne Kanengeiser.
Technical:
Choreog: Michael Lichtefeld; Music Dir: Andrew Wilder; Orchestr: Kim Scharnberg. Set: Derek McLane; Costumes: Catherine Zuber; Lighting: David Lander; Sound: Tony Meola.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz +
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
January 2005
