Little Women Review-Final Draft

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 2:04pm

First, I wasn't here yesterday because my computer broke. I'm using an office computer right now so I may not be able to respond to every comment I get. This is the final draft of a review I wrote for school. Please read. I'm in 8th grade and I really need critique. This is the seventh draft and I thought that I may as well be productive as I am sick and I am not in school. I already handed it in, but my teacher said that I should fine-tune it (I did a little more than fine tuning) to make it sound better and more adult. Here it is:









Over the past ten years, the small, old fashioned musical has been endangered. Musicals like Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera, with big budgets and enormous casts have taken over our theaters. However, Little Women, which opened at the Virginia Theater on January 23, may change that, although it may not be for the better.
The famous story centers around the March family at the time of the Civil War. The patriarch of the family away to fight in the union army and Marmee (Maureen McGovern) had to take care of her four daughters, each one extremely different. The dazzling cast had the near-impossible task of making this musical an enjoyable experience for large audiences.
Louisa May Alcott is probably turning over in her grave, mourning over the fact that her well-known and loved book was turned into a horribly mediocre musical. While the story of the March family may be timeless, it till has to take place during the Civil War. The book to this musical fails to set the time frame. You are at best taken back to one hundred years ago. Every character was sorely underwritten except for Jo (Sutton Foster.) The book may center around Jo, but in this musical, not only is hardly anyone else is on stage, but none of the other characters are completely developed. People left the show wishing that stage veteran Maureen McGovern had a bigger part, or that some of the scenes could be more complete. The song before Beth’s (Megan McGinnis) death (Some Things Are Meant to Be) was more heart-wrenching than Beth’s death itself. In fact, you never even see Beth die. You have to assume that she is dead when Amy (Amy McAlexander) returns home and says “Oh, I wish I could have been here to see her go!” The ages of the girls also do not match up. Any grew up, became a sophisticated young lady and got married in a matter of twenty minutes while her other sister, Jo, jumped from ten, to sixteen and to twenty, then remained the same age throughout the rest of the show.
The score to this musical was not quite wonderful or memorable. Some songs, such as the Act 1 showstopper Astonishing were good, but most were pointless and did not advance the plot. Some of the lyrics verged on being as bad as this season’s first major flop, Dracula.
Thankfully, the cast was able to save this show. Sutton Foster dazzled the audience with her gorgeous voice and her natural ease on stage. Maureen McGovern played her part to perfection and captivated the audience. The other March sisters had amazing chemistry and fluidity on stage. Megan McGinnis was perfectly sweet, Jenny Powers (Meg) was perfectly sophisticated and Amy McAlexander was perfectly annoying. John Hickok (Professor Bhaer), Robert Stattel (Mr. Laurence), Chris Gunn (Laurie and the understudy for Danny Gurwin) and Janet Carroll (Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk) all played their underwritten parts as beautifully as they could. The audience laughed and cried along with them and a joke never went flat due to poor delivery.
Overall, this show is worth seeing if you want a fun night out with your family. Although the book did not quite set the mood, the sets, lighting and costumes did. While the show itself will probably not be nominated for a Tony Award, Sutton Foster and Maureen McGovern will surely be nominated for Best Actress and Best Featured Actress in a Musical. I highly recommend this show for mothers and their daughters. It is a great show for a family night out and it will probably make you love and appreciate them even more than you already did.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 3:22pm

*bump* I really need reviews.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 3:22pm

It's good. I don't agree with some of what you said, but you did a good job.

Feel better soon!

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 3:25pm

One more thing: you have an extra "is" in the sentence: "The book may center around Jo....completely developed."

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 4:39pm

Thanks! Corrected (not in my post)