Little Women Article ( I fixed it!)

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:31am

This is an article from the Raleigh News&Observer about the changes that have been made to the show. I thought it might interest you guys.

'Women,' made over, hits N.Y.

When "Little Women: The Musical" opens today on Broadway, it will be a far different show from the pre-Broadway incarnation audiences saw at Duke University in October.
The cast is the same, with Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster playing JoMarch and pop star Maureen McGovern as her mother, Marmee, in this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel. But producers used their long Durham and New York preview runs to experiment with cuts, additions and changes.
For starters, the show is down to just over 2 1/2 hours, co-producer Randall Wreghitt said by phone last week. The Durham version prompted big yawns at almost three hours. And the cast has new costumes and a prettier show curtain, with images of Jo's manuscripts fluttering in the wind. The structure is clearer, too, with fewer jumps in time and location. And several songs have been tightened.
Among other major changes:
*"I'll Love You Anyway," the song Jo sang to bratty sister Amy after Amy fell into a pond while ice skating, has been replaced. Good thing: It seemed peculiar when the soaked and shivering Amy leaped from the couch to join the sisters' jovial song and dance. In its place: "Five Forever," in which the four March sisters designate Laurie, the adorable boy next door, an honorary sibling.
*"Here Alone," Marmee's solo about remaining strong while her husband is at war, has new music.
*"I'd Be Delighted," in which sister Meg learns how to behave at her first ball, has less singing and more dancing.
*"An Operatic Tragedy, Part II" has been replaced by a new song. "Our Finest Dreams."
*Mr. March's absence is clarified. He's still never shown, but he's more frequently mentioned.
*Professor Bhaer's song to Jo, "Beyond This Tiny Room," got the wrecking ball, along with its whole scene. It didn't make sense to have the introverted Bhaer try to persuade the adventurous Jo to get out and explore more. But the "Tiny Room" tune lives on, with new lyrics, in "Five Forever."
"Jo's attraction to the stuffy old Bhaer is clearer. Now, maybe, audiences will stop rooting for the younger man, Laurie, to win Jo over. Maybe.

~Orla Swift

Updated On: 1/23/05 at 10:31 AM

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 10:59am

I fixed it!

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 11:03am

Yay! I liked the article and I can't wait for the show!

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 12:36pm

They changed a lot of things that I hoped they would. "I'll Love You Anyway" was so bad! Does anyone remember if Operatic Tragedy Part II was the song that had Amy as a troll... cause I enjoyed that.

Crossing my fingers for tonight...

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:11pm

I liked "I'll Love You Anyway"! I really like "Five Forever" though, and it has lots of cute dancing. Most of the stuff in "Operatic Tragedy Part II" is still there, just under a different song title and with some changes. The Amy/Troll part is still there.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/23/05 at 3:26pm

I felt like the whole Amy falling in the water scene was awkward even without the song.
"Yay! I have a new skirt on! Even though my traumatizing experience was two seconds ago, I'm grinning from ear to ear now!"
Eep. Overall, two thumbs up on Little Women. With some awkward moments.