Little Women Review-School Assignment

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:37pm

Please tell me if this review is good!






Little Women, a new musical based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, opened at the Virginia Theater on January 23. The story centers on the March family at the time of the Civil War. The patriarch of the house went away to fight in the Union army and Marmee (Maureen McGovern) had to take care of her four daughters, each one extremely different.
The book was mediocre at best. It did not set the time at all. At best, it took you back to about one hundred years ago. Every character was sorely underwritten except for Jo (Sutton Foster.) People left the show wishing that Maureen McGovern had a bigger part or that some of the events could finally be explained. The song before Beth’s death (Some Things Are Meant to Be) was more tear wrenching than Beth’s death itself. The ages of the girls also do not match up. Amy (Amy McAlexander) grew up in an eye blink and became a sophisticated young woman in a matter of twenty minutes. Jo jumped from ten, to sixteen, to twenty, then back to ten.
The score also, was not exactly wonderful and amazing. Some songs were good, but most were pointless and did not advance the plot at all. Some of the lyrics verged on being as bad as this season’s early flop, Dracula.
What made this show an enjoyable experience was the magnificent cast. Sutton Foster dazzled and astonished 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. John Hickok (Professor Bhaer) and Janet Carroll (Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk) played their underwritten parts as beautifully as they could. Robert Stattel (Mr. Laurence) and Chris Gunn (Laurie) made the audience laugh and cry along with them, although their parts were underwritten too.
Overall, seeing this show was a wonderful experience. Although the book did not quite set the mood, the sets lighting and costumes did. The audience came out humming the songs, especially the Act 1 showstopper, Astonishing. While the show itself may 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 children. It is a great show to see with your family and makes you appreciate and love them even more than you probably did.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:38pm

Very good review. What class is it for?

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:43pm

Sorry to nitpick:

By book you mean the book for the muscial, not the book as in the novel by Louisa May Alcott, right? Maybe you should make the distinction.


Jo is 15 at the youngest, in the book, did they change it to 10 for the muscial?

Also isn't Danny Gurwin Laurie? Or is his understudy Chris Gunn? Maybe say it was his understudy if thats the case.


Otherwise very nice review. Sorry to pick to death, but I'm a perfectionist when it comes to Little Women facts. :)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:43pm

Thanks! I did it instead of a book review in English. My teacher said that as long as I don't ramble on and on about Sutton Foster, I'd be allowed to write it.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:47pm

And sorry, Eponine-
I understand. I'm a huge fan.
Chris Gunn is the understudy for Danny Gurwin.
And yeah, I meant the book/script, not the one by Louisa May Alcott.
Sutton Foster is at youngest 15, but sometimes seems to be too young (10) or too old (20). I think that is a fault of the book, not her.

Thank you! I'm only thirteen and this is my first real musical review.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:55pm

Good job MFL! I am very impressed with your writing skills. Most people in my grade can't write that well, let alone the people in the 8th grade!

Your teacher is an intelligent woman(?)! Not letting you ramble about Sutton...haha!

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:57pm

Thank you!

She really is smart. When she told me I couldn't ramble about Sutton, I was so disappointed! I got the pictures back and I'll scan them in soon. By the way, WARNING: I'm not usually that fat. I'm the least photo-genic person in the world and I put my head up when I get photographed.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:02pm

Can't wait to see them!
I need to put more of mine up. Let us know when yours are up.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:06pm

My Fair Lady, It's good to see another LW novel fan out there!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:09pm

Your English teacher should have his/her teaching liscense revoked for allowing you to skip reading the book, and allowing you to review the musical adaptation instead.

The ever decreasing level of education in this country will be a reason for America's downfall.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 10:30pm

Okay, here's the revised version. And I fell asleep reading the book.






Little Women, a new musical based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, opened at the Virginia Theater on January 23. The story centers around the March family at the time of the Civil War. The patriarch of the family went away to fight in the Union army and Marmee (Maureen McGovern) had to take care of her four daughters, each one extremely different.
The book to the musical was mediocre at best. It did not set the time frame at all. The musical at best took you back to one hundred years ago. Every character was sorely underwritten except for Jo (Sutton Foster.) People left the show wishing that Maureen McGovern had a bigger part or that some of the scenes could be more complete. The song that Beth and Jo sang before Beth’s death (Some Things Are Meant to Be) was more heart wrenching than Beth’s death itself. The ages of the girls also do not match up. Amy (Amy McAlexander) grew up in the blink of an eye, became a sophisticated young woman, 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 while Amy grew up.
The score was not exactly wonderful and amazing. Some songs were good, but most were pointless and did not advance the plot at all. Some of the lyrics verged on being as bad as this season’s early flop, Dracula.
What made this show an enjoyable experience was the magnificent cast. Sutton Foster dazzled and astonished 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. John Hickok (Professor Bhaer) and Janet Carroll (Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk) played their underwritten parts as beautifully as they could. Robert Stattel (Mr. Laurence) and Chris Gunn (Laurie) made the audience laugh and cry along with them, although their parts were underwritten too.
Overall, seeing this show was a wonderful experience. Although the book did not quite set the mood, the sets, lighting and costumes did. The audience came out humming the songs, especially the Act 1 showstopper, Astonishing. While the show itself may 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 children. It is a great show to see with your family and makes you appreciate and love them even more than you probably did.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 7:43pm

MFL~ When you went, did you notice if they were selling picture program/booklet thingies? Anyone know if they are yet?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 8:02pm

They haven't started yet, but the playbills are already black and white.