Spider's LITTLE WOMEN review (Finally!!)

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:33pm

Sorry it has taken me so long to write a review but I had to drive my fiance home last night and didn't get to her house until around midnight so I decided to spend the night there because I was falling asleep at the wheel. Anyway, to my review.

THE STAGING:
Lord, folks.....I was sooooooooo impressed by the staging. I mean, sets flew in, slid in, etc. Backdrops changed constantly to reveal such gorgeous scenery. My favorite is the attic. I mean, it looked so real. It covered the whole back of the stage and it was just amazing. When you see it on Broadway, you will know what I mean. The furniture that was used were beautiful as were the costumes. The dresses were so elegant looking and "real." Kudos to those that worked on that set. You did an amazing job.

THE STORY:
It didn't follow the novel step by step but it stayed close to the theme and actions of the book. I mean, all the big stuff were there but a good deal was also thrown out (which is understandable since the book is so long).

In the way of character development, I think they could have done better. Jo, Amy, and Marmee were pretty well developed but the other characters just seemed to be there to sing a pretty song and then leave. Beth was the most underdeveloped, I thought. She was only in a couple of scenes so I didn't fall in love with her like I should have. I mean, her view of life is what was so great about her character in the book and movies, but it was mostly ignored in the musical. But, the scenes Beth was in was great.

With Jo, I think they made her a little too immature in the beginning as well as Laurie. They are supposed to be mid-teens, early twenties and they acted like they were 10 years old. In the time of the Civil War, people their age would not have acted like that. I understand they were going for youthfulness but I think they took it a step too far. That was one thing that turned me off. But besides those few things, I thought they did a g great job with the story.

THE ACTORS:

SUTTON FOSTER (Jo)--In the first act, I was so dissapointed because she majorly overacted. It was very amaturish, but I think it was because of what I stated about her character development. I wished she would have toned it down just a little bit. You can act like a teenager but not be constantly goofy. In the second act though, she was perfection. I mean, it was like a complete different person on that stage. I understand the character is older but she played the part like it was meant for her. And her voice........don't get me started. How can that big of a voice come out of that little body? She sang every song to perfection and had a smile on my face everytime she sang. YOU GO GIRL!!!

MAUREEN MCGOVERN (Marmee)--I think she was the best actor and singer on that stage. She has been singing and acting for a long time and you can tell because when she took the stage, she commanded it. She was also my favorite character in the musical because she lost a daughter and husband but yet kept her head lifted high and lived her life to the fullest but at the same time you could hear the heartache in her voice. Magic.....that is all I can say about her performance.

Amy McAlexander (Amy), Jenny Powers (Meg), and Megan Mcginnis (Beth) played the parts of the sisters to perfection. I loved it every time they were on the stage. Especially Amy. Her voice was high and shrill when she was a young girl but that is how I believe her character would have sounded in the book.

The rest of the cast was great as well but I have a couple of things I wish they would change but I won't go into that. Just know that everyone they chose to play the parts were perfectly chosen.

THE SONGS:

Beautiful. As I was watching the musical and listening to the songs, I thought I was watching a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. It just had that feel to it. And let me be the first to say that "Astonishing" is going to be next years "Defying Gravity." Every girl will be singing that song. And the song that Jo and Beth sings at the beach called "Some Things Are Meant To Be," My fiance and I were crying and she didn't stop crying until the end. Again, let me state that the music is beautiful. I am definetly going to buy the cast recording the day it comes out.

OVERALL:
I really, really, really enjoyed this musical. I think it going to do very well next year when it hits broadway. It is definetly going to pick up a following and some of the songs are going to be in girls music repetoire for years to come. If you do not have tickets to see this I strongly suggest you do. You won't be sorry.

Sorry that this is so long, but I wanted to give my first musical review as much as I could in a short amount of time. On a side note, I asked a student who was a directing intern there if Sutton and the gang were going to sign the programs after the show and she went and asked and said that they said that they would so I waited after the show. When they finally came out, a crowd of fourteen year old girls and their mothers pushed me out of the way to get signatures and pictures. Maureen McGovern came out and she was so nice and gracious for people wanting her autograph and coming to the show. And all of a sudden Sutton came out and said she could only stay about 3 minutes because her boyfriend was waiting on her, and everyone's attention left Maureen and went to Sutton. I felt so sorry for her because she looked as if she was unimportant and not wanted. She just stood up and grabbed her purse and started to walk out, but I said "excuse me. can you please sign this for me? You were amazing and I loved your voice." She smiled at me and signed my program and said "thanks" and walked out. But, because of those fourteen year old girls and their mothers, I didn't get anyone else's autograph and I am still pissed about that. Oh well!

Updated On: 10/17/04 at 06:33 PM

[amasis]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:48pm

That was fun to read . Thanks, spider! Glad you had a good time!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:51pm

Thanks for helping me to decide Spider to now go to see this show.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 6:52pm

Thanks for such a detailed review, Spider. I can't wait to see this musical.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:02pm

Nice review, spidey...I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I hope Sutton is giving us another Tony-worthy performance this time around. :)

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:08pm

To be perfectly honest, unless she tones it down in the first act, I don't think she is going to win that Tony, even though she has so much potential to.

And to everyone else, thanks for the compliments. I am glad I was there to experience it in it's previews. I wonder how it is going to change once it hits bway?

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:11pm

I enjoyed the review. You might want to change the title to "Spider's LITTLE WOMEN review (Finally!!)".

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:13pm

Thanks for your review!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:13pm

Oooops. See what little sleep and an eagerness to write a review gets you? It has been changed.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:13pm

Thanks, DJ! How's John Hickok?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:16pm

I thought John did a great job. His character was also underveloped pretty badly. But, he has a great voice and the end between him and Sutton was beautiful. I had the cheesiest smile on my face during the last scene. And the song they sang called "Small Umbrella In The Rain" during that scene was gorgeous. I want to find a girl and sing that as a duet once the sheet music comes out. But, yes.....he did a great job.

Updated On: 10/17/04 at 07:16 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:17pm

Glad to hear it! YAY for Aida love!!

[insomniak]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:23pm

Glad you liked it, Spider.

Ok, I'm a bit behind. Is Little Women in NYC now? If so, what else did you see while you were there, Spider?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:26pm

It opens here in January, insomniak. Previews start sometime in December... the tryouts are in SC now, right spider?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:28pm

No. Actually, it is at Duke University in NC. And it will have it's offical opening on Broadway mid January (I think that is what John said while he was signing stupid fourteen year old's programs. Grrrrrrr. SO PISSED )

Updated On: 10/17/04 at 07:28 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:29pm

lol, I was close!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:29pm

So close, yet so far.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:34pm

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 7:58pm

Thanks Spiderdj! that review was great and now I reallly can't wait to see it when it hits Broadway. I love Sutton, so for her sake I really do hope that she tones it down so she can possibly snatch that tony! Thanks again!

[JoMarch]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:01pm

Thanks

[Roxie_Hart]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:22pm

Spider, thanks for the FABULOUS review! I'm going to the Saturday matinee of LW this weekend (I go to Elon University which is about an hour or an hour and a half away from Duke) so you have really made me even more excited!

Question for you... I emailed the production director at Duke about meeting the cast and such, and she said that no one would be coming out between shows or anything. HOWEVER, a friend of mine saw the matinee THIS Saturday and said that the cast actually came out into the house after they had changed and whatnot and signed autographs and took pictures briefly. Do you believe this will be the case as well? I am DYING to meet Sutton Foster... been a fan since her days in Les Mis, and I also have a gift for her.

Thanks a ton!
Redhead: A Tribute to Gwen Verdon

Updated On: 10/17/04 at 08:22 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:23pm

I'm looking forward to seeing how this was musicalized; it doesn't strike me as the best story for that treatment, so I'm wondering if they did it well.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:35pm

I was actually at the matinee yesterday. As Sutton was running out the door a couple of girls asked her if she will be out signing autographs at the evening showing and she said yes, but according to others, they didn't. The only people that came out to sign things were John, Maureen, and Sutton. But, they only stayed for like 3-5 minutes a peice. They didn't sign everyone's because I left with only one autograph. I am about to gripe so be prepared. Sutton came out saying that she could only stay for 3 minutes so instead of letting her sign autographs for 3 minutes two women talked to her about how their daughters wanted to be actors because of her and Idina Menzel. Those ladies wouldn't let anyone else get near her. Same with John. But, Maureen signed my program and I love her for it. . Have fun at the show........you will love it.

Updated On: 10/17/04 at 08:35 PM

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:36pm

Thanks for the review! I already have my tickets! Just curious, but did you see Sutton in "T.M.M."? If you did, did she play Jo like she played Millie or was she completely different? I can't wait to see her!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/17/04 at 8:39pm

Unfortunatly, I didn't see her in TMM. Infact, I have never seen a show on Broadway. I heard she was brilliant though in it. What I said about her acting is probably only because this is the previews and she hasn't gotten a firm grasp on the character yet, but if she can pull of what she did in the second act, it will be perfection all around.