RENTBOY sees Little Women (Birmingham, AL)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 11:15pm

Little Women
Birmingham, Alabama
BJCC Concert Hall
Sunday April 30

I student rushed the show and got a ticket for $22 - row F in the Orchestra. So glad I waited to student rush. Perfect seat.

So I walked in and I saw the big curtain with the flowing papers on it and the lace false proscenium. It got me really excited for some reason.

I sit down and think, "wow, no understudies, how great." Then, a voice comes over the speakers and ... "The role of Jo will be played by Julie Foldesi.

The show was great. I had my doubts, but I got really wrapped up in the story. When Amy throws Jo's papers in the fire it took everything in me to resist saying "you bitch!" - ha. The score was great, as I had expected. Some of the songs I didn't really like as much on the recording definently worked better when stage and incorporated in the story. A lot of the songs started sorta suddenly. Like, before you know it, you're in another song. My only complaint with the score is that it really didnt have a great opening or closing song. Most musicals have a big company number to sort of get you into the show, but this didn't have one. And usually, they have a big rousing cast number to close this show. I thought the end song - "Sometimes when you dream" - which isn't even listed in the playbill - was sort of a let down. Jo should have a big 11 o'clock number, and then have the cast come out and sing "sometimes when you dream" - and then to pull at the heart strings, maybe have Beth have the last verse or something. I just felt like the opening of both acts and the ending could have been stronger.

The story was great. I haven't read the book or seen the movie, so I sort of took it for what its worth. I didn't feel like I really missed anything. My only quip would be that Jo's relationship with Professor Bhaer was sort of sudden. Like, I knew it was coming because I knew the recording, but in the show, they didn't really show them flirting or anything. They also could have played up Amy going with Aunt March to Europe. It was sort of slighted, thought it was a big part of the story. I mean, they didnt have to have a scene with them in Europe, but they could have mentioned it or talked about in lenght a little more. But other than that, I was really into the show.

the performances were great. Everyone was spot on. Andrew Varela (Professor Bhaer) added so much to his part. After to listening to the recording, I didn't realize that the Professor was German. Julie Foldesi as Jo was great. She had a great voice and hit all the money notes with the right amount of power. I was looking in the playbill and I was surprised to see that she also understudies Meg and Beth. It must be so hard to sing a song that you know both parts of. Like, to remember to sing each harmony. Anyways, Marueen McGovern was great. Her voice was spot on, I loved every song she sang. Her part, actually, wasn't that big, but I thought she did great with everything she was given. All the surporting characters were good also. Stephen Patterson was Laurie was kinda strange at first. I wasn't really prepared for his line delivery, but it grew on me.

Now, my favorite part of the show. The sets. Wow. They were gorgeous. It was so complex, yet so simply. The backdrop of the winter landscape was beautifully abstract. I was so excited everytime a new location was introduced. What did this set design loose out to?

I def. recommend this tour. It didn't seem to sell too well here or Broadway, but I would recommend it. Its def. not a light comedy or fluff. It takes a lot of concentration, but it was well worth it. I noticed a lot of people yawning and checking their watches, but I was really into the story. I guess to each his own.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 11:32pm

you wrote a review 100,000,000,000 x better than mine...that has been buried in posts about why wicked hasnt updated their website

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 11:36pm

I totally agree with you as well :)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/30/06 at 11:51pm

Ha, its not that detailed. I sorta loose track when I'm writing reviews. It usually turns into word vomit. If you can find your review post it on here.

Which "jo" did you see? I'd love to hear the original jo in the tour. Any clips of her?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 1:48am

I can't remember the character's name, but the women in the opening of Act 2 - is that all she does? It's such a small pointless part. If not, who plays that part? I couldn't figure it out.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 2:40am

The Irish lady who works at the boarding house? She doubles as Aunt March, but yes, that's all that particular character does.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:23am

oh okay ---- thats cool ---- yeah, I noticed she looked familiar. thanks liz.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:13pm

Does anyone know what set design won last year at the Tonys? I still think Little Women was at least robbed of that award. I also think Marueen McGovern should have at least been nominated. She had so much passion and power behind her voice.

***SPOILER (MAYBE)***
I also liked how they delt with Beth's death. It was done so tastefully and classy. They just mentioned it rather than showing it or anything. And I love in "Somethings are Meant To Be" when she says "...Let me go now..." - after that everyone around me was crying.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 6:54pm

Can anyone link me to Brantley's review of the show?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 6:57pm

i'd try the times website, didn't get sleepy during this show at all? the sets were pretty good for a touring production, but my friends couldn't even sit through the 1st act, so we left before it was over, i saw the show in NYC(till the end) but i was by myself, and i decided to give the show a 2nd chance now that im familiar with the score, still i was bored out of my mind and as soon as my friends expressed their boredom, i agreed to leave.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:04pm

Piazza won sets. I'm pretty sure. Glad you enjoyed it, I loved the show when I saw it almost a year ago.

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:08pm

I love this show! I am seeing it in Philly on Friday and I am psyched! So glad you enjoyed it!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:14pm

Well its not really like a big, flashy entertaining musical. It actually asks the audience to listen and be patiencent. I mean its not like Bombay Dreams or Lion King or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but I think it has a great story to it. I could really connect with Jo - which I didn' think I was going to be able to. As an aspiring actor, I could see myself in her. Everyone around her is taking the safe route and getting married and settling down, but she wanted to be a writer. And just the way Jo looked when Amy and Laurie announced their engagement. Uh, it was just beautiful. The sets were good for a touring set? The sets were amazing. They were intricate and beautiful. The way the two big side wooden staircases rolled on and off and extended for each scene was really cool. I also loved the painted backdrops. I wish I had seen it again.

[sanda]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:27pm

I dislike this show. This is one of the dullest shows I ever saw. I love the story and two movies of "Little women", but not this musical. I agree with Brantly's review. The book is bad. It follows the story, but no portray of the character. I cannot connect to anyone of the show. Jo used to be the character I root the most. However, here she is more like a noisy, naive teenager instead of a lively, independent girl.

And the score is bland. There is not one song memorable. And the lyrics:
"I may be small
But I've got giant plans
To shine as greatly as the sun" ------oh,please.

I do think that the only merit of the show is the setting.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:29pm

oh the sets were amazing...i agree.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:29pm

oh the sets were amazing...i agree.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 7:49pm

I actually found all the songs fairly memorable. I really like "somethings are meant to be" "take a chance on me" "small umbrella in the rain" "astonishing" - etc. I thought there was a lot of character development. Maybe not in the words that were spoken, but moreso in the way the characters acted and interacted. Its def. not for everyone. I think just the time period alone would be considered boring, but there were a lot of themes that can still be connected with today.

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:52pm

I really, really enjoyed this show when it came here to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in California, I am actually waiting for it to come back to Los Angeles at the Pantages theatre. I love Maureen McGovern and feel she was robbed of a tony nomination, she is just so wonderful in this show.

[way_to_spend_the_day]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 11:32pm

------I also think Marueen McGovern should have at least been nominated. She had so much passion and power behind her voice.--


I saw Maureen both on Broadway and on the tour (back when they were in Boston) and she seemed to have more passion on the tour. Possibly she has found the role as the time goes along or maybe I just saw her on an off-day during the Broadway run, but she had so much more passion and emphasis during her songs in Boston. I have NEVER heard a greater response to a song at ANY production than after her second act song "Days of Plenty". The song itself, following Beth's death, is not really appropriate for cheers or shouts over Maureen's amazing performance, so the audience just would not stop applauding. You could feel the energy from the audience which was completely silent and simply intent on clapping for her phenomenal performance. Seriously the longest applause I've heard during a show's duration. Maureen is amazing in this role!

Glad you liked the show, Rentboy, it's one of my favorites!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/1/06 at 11:45pm

It's growing into a favorite of mine. I think after being let down by 42nd Street and Bombay Dreams, I just wanted to like this show so much.

I was thinking that too. She's be doing the role for over two years, right? I was thinking she must have the part down by now and the vocals must fit perfectly in her voice. "Days of Plenty" was so strong and powerful. I could hear the people behind me crying. It was so moving.

And I can't stop gushing about the set. I loved when like there's this mass chaos on stage of sets moving in and flying out, its so beautiful ha.