REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Little Women
Chelmsford Theatre
7 October – 11 October 25
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
Little Women
Chelmsford Theatre
7 October – 11 October 25
An interesting presentation of a well-loved classic
Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women is one of the most loved books of all time. Indeed as a child, I had a copy that I constantly read, and was most upset when I lent it to someone and it was never returned.
Since it was written in the 1860s there have been many film and stage adaptations, including the recent successful Greta Gerwig film. It could be said that another adaptation may be one too many, but this one, directed by Loveday Ingram, proves we are never tired of the story of the March sisters.
It is Christmas Eve and, Marmee (Juliet Aubrey) a quiet and restrained performance, struggles to look after her daughters. Meanwhile, her husband is away in the American Civil War. The novel based on the author’s life, concerns the lives and loves of four sisters who are very contrasting characters. Natalie Dunne excellently plays Jo as the headstrong, independent one who longs to be a famous writer, and storms the stage with great physicality. Meg (Jade Oswald) is the demure, ladylike one who falls for the impoverished tutor next door. Whilst Beth, is the ailing daughter played with spirit by Megan Richards and Amy, (Jewelle Hutchinson) the spoilt, petulant one whose character is a little irritating. She later saves the handsome Laurie from a life of decadence, after Jo rejects him. Tom Richardson meanwhile has the dual role of Laurie’s tutor and Professor Bhaer, the man Jo finally falls for. He managed to make them completely different characters.
The relationships are explored throughout the play. All the girls bouncing of each other as they discuss their hopes and dreams for the future, despite being in the middle of a war.
I liked the characterisation of rich Laurie, well played by Perry Williams. He conveyed the bon vivant of a young man with the world at his feet, which turns to devastation when rejected.
An unrecognisable Belinda Lang plays their rich relative, Aunt March. She acted the part as a cross between Katherine Hepburn and Lady Bracknell, although she did bring some humour to the play, which tended to be rather dark. This included the staging, which for some reason has what looked like a petrified forest around the interior home of the March family. A tree covered in lights conveyed the Christmas scenes, but was rather hidden up the back.
Given the limitations of performing such scenes on a stage, the drowning scene and the death of Beth were well done. It was acted by suggestion with movement and mime in a way that was most effective.
Appropriate music, sung by the cast throughout created a moving atmosphere. The Battle Hymn of the Republic was a repeated theme and there was the addition of There’s No Place like Home and even Silent Night.
The indication of time passing was a little confusing, as characters appeared, it took a moment to realise that they had been away for several years, but overall it worked well.
It must have been very difficult to adapt a famous book into a play with no special effects to work with. So, congratulations to Anne-Marie Casey for making it work so well.
There was certainly a buzz of enjoyment around the packed theatre both before and after the show.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Since it was written in the 1860s there have been many film and stage adaptations, including the recent successful Greta Gerwig film. It could be said that another adaptation may be one too many, but this one, directed by Loveday Ingram, proves we are never tired of the story of the March sisters.
It is Christmas Eve and, Marmee (Juliet Aubrey) a quiet and restrained performance, struggles to look after her daughters. Meanwhile, her husband is away in the American Civil War. The novel based on the author’s life, concerns the lives and loves of four sisters who are very contrasting characters. Natalie Dunne excellently plays Jo as the headstrong, independent one who longs to be a famous writer, and storms the stage with great physicality. Meg (Jade Oswald) is the demure, ladylike one who falls for the impoverished tutor next door. Whilst Beth, is the ailing daughter played with spirit by Megan Richards and Amy, (Jewelle Hutchinson) the spoilt, petulant one whose character is a little irritating. She later saves the handsome Laurie from a life of decadence, after Jo rejects him. Tom Richardson meanwhile has the dual role of Laurie’s tutor and Professor Bhaer, the man Jo finally falls for. He managed to make them completely different characters.
The relationships are explored throughout the play. All the girls bouncing of each other as they discuss their hopes and dreams for the future, despite being in the middle of a war.
I liked the characterisation of rich Laurie, well played by Perry Williams. He conveyed the bon vivant of a young man with the world at his feet, which turns to devastation when rejected.
An unrecognisable Belinda Lang plays their rich relative, Aunt March. She acted the part as a cross between Katherine Hepburn and Lady Bracknell, although she did bring some humour to the play, which tended to be rather dark. This included the staging, which for some reason has what looked like a petrified forest around the interior home of the March family. A tree covered in lights conveyed the Christmas scenes, but was rather hidden up the back.
Given the limitations of performing such scenes on a stage, the drowning scene and the death of Beth were well done. It was acted by suggestion with movement and mime in a way that was most effective.
Appropriate music, sung by the cast throughout created a moving atmosphere. The Battle Hymn of the Republic was a repeated theme and there was the addition of There’s No Place like Home and even Silent Night.
The indication of time passing was a little confusing, as characters appeared, it took a moment to realise that they had been away for several years, but overall it worked well.
It must have been very difficult to adapt a famous book into a play with no special effects to work with. So, congratulations to Anne-Marie Casey for making it work so well.
There was certainly a buzz of enjoyment around the packed theatre both before and after the show.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Tickets are available from Wed 8 October – Sat 11 October.
Venue: Chelmsford Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex,CM1 1JG
Length: 147 mins
Tickets: £18.00 - £45.00
Accessible Performances:
Wheelchair accessible and essential companion tickets must be booked via our Access Scheme
Tel: 01245 606505
Em: chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk
Chelmsford Theatre members get priority booking on all events and get £2 off Little Women tickets (bands A and B -Tue to Thu, full price tickets only), plus never pay the standard £2 booking fee.
Concessions £2 off Bands A and B (Tue to Thu only)
Recommended age 10+
Group Booking discount available - 10% discount for Groups 10+ (Band A & B only)
Schools rate £18 (Tue to Thu only)
Wed 8 Oct 2.30pm performance will be captioned
A £2 fee is applicable per transaction
The Tour Continues:-
Tue, 21st October 2025 to Sat, 25th October 2025
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford»
Tue, 28th October 2025 to Sat, 1st November 2025
Theatre Royal, Bath»
Tue, 4th November 2025 to Sat, 8th November 2025
Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool»
Venue: Chelmsford Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex,CM1 1JG
Length: 147 mins
Tickets: £18.00 - £45.00
Accessible Performances:
Wheelchair accessible and essential companion tickets must be booked via our Access Scheme
Tel: 01245 606505
Em: chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk
Chelmsford Theatre members get priority booking on all events and get £2 off Little Women tickets (bands A and B -Tue to Thu, full price tickets only), plus never pay the standard £2 booking fee.
Concessions £2 off Bands A and B (Tue to Thu only)
Recommended age 10+
Group Booking discount available - 10% discount for Groups 10+ (Band A & B only)
Schools rate £18 (Tue to Thu only)
Wed 8 Oct 2.30pm performance will be captioned
A £2 fee is applicable per transaction
The Tour Continues:-
Tue, 21st October 2025 to Sat, 25th October 2025
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford»
Tue, 28th October 2025 to Sat, 1st November 2025
Theatre Royal, Bath»
Tue, 4th November 2025 to Sat, 8th November 2025
Everyman & Playhouse, Liverpool»