As the snow begins to fly and temperatures fall, what better way is there to spend a winter’s day than cozying up with a classic tale? Wren Theatre’s production of Little Women, directed by Tatum Lee, enhances the warmth and comfort of the Alumnae Theatre Studio to tell Louisa May Alcott’s seminal work. Featuring beautifully hand made costumes, a brilliant cast, and a smart adaptation, Little Women is a perfect start to the holiday season.

Little Women is a wildly popular story, with several many movie and television adaptations to choose from, not to mention a stage musical as well as other staged versions. Yet it’s easy to see why; this story is full of family ties, romance, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness. The four March sisters live together with their mother, who they affectionately call Marmee, and their housekeeper Hannah. Their father is off fighting in the Civil War, and has been gone for some time on the Christmas Eve we first meet the March family. Meg is the eldest, followed by Jo, then Beth and Amy. Each girl has an art form they love and pursue: Beth plays the piano, Amy draws, Meg loves to read and Jo, of course, is the writer of the family. The story takes place over several years as the lives of the March sisters are changed irreparably. Yet amongst the separation and sadness, there is joy and love, and moments of true togetherness.

Scott Davidson’s adaptation places a heavy focus on Jo’s writing career; it makes sense, especially considering the novel “Little Women” essentially tells the tale of its own creation. In the final moments of the play, where the family is finally back together again and under happy circumstances, the main excitement isn’t the wedding or new children, it’s the arrival of Jo’s book “My Beth”. Suddenly the whole family is gathered around Jo to hear her tell her story. Jo’s narration throughout the play allows the audience to understand the passage of time, while also leaning into the idea that this is Jo reading her book to us and her family.

The actors playing the March sisters give phenomenal performances as they navigate this incredible story together. Lizette Mynhardt stars as Jo March; from the voiceovers to her on stage performance Mynhardt shines in this role. Lizzie Moffatt plays Meg March and I love the eldest sister vibes she gives off. Moffatt’s Meg is sweet, kind, and caring for those around her. Karen Scobie’s Beth is equal parts heart warming and heart breaking, as her character is by far the most tragic in the story. Scobie proves why Beth is the best of them. Mari MacDonald plays Amy, the youngest of the sisters, and she does so with an infectious smile on her face. These four ladies work so well together and you can feel the genuine adoration they have for one another throughout the production.

Jesse McQueen and Daniel Christian Jones play Marmee and Mr. March. Their scene together broke me; watching parents grieve a child is deeply moving and these two did an excellent job at bringing these characters to life. Anne Shepherd and Drea Burck play Aunt March and Hannah, and the two of them have such perfect comedic timing, both when they’re quarrelling and on their own, that they become the main sources of levity within the show. Devin Bell is a dashing Teddy Lawrence; it’s easy to see why Amy is so immediately smitten with him! Jordan Imray’s John Brooke is every bit the gentleman, and a perfect match for Meg. Imray and Bell have a chemistry all their own which they bring to their interactions with the March sisters. Dash Grundy rounds out the cast as the serious yet caring Dr. Bangs.

Natalia Morales’ set design makes great use of the pre-existing ambiance of the Studio Theatre while adding in the perfect elements to let the audience know the time and place of the story. The costumes for this production have all been hand made and it’s truly a mind-boggling feat considering how many there are in the play. Yet each one suits its character to a tee and, along with the set, cements the locale. Walking into the theatre and seeing the Christmas tree all set up and the fire place going immediately puts you in the warm, safe space of the March home. But the foliage and fence pieces also allow the apron of the stage to be used for the outdoor scenes, and give us the hints of spring and summer.

I think the reason why we gravitate to Little Women with each new generation is because we can all find ourselves in these characters; their humanity, their passions, and their love for one another drives the story and makes them characters we can cheer for. This production’s focus on that humanity and on their artistic pursuits above all else, makes for a familiar yet unique telling of this beloved story.

Little Women runs at the Alumnae Theatre Studio until December 7. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.wrentheatre.com/littlewomen-1

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Cover Photo: Lizette Mynhardt, Mari MacDonald, Karen Scobie, and Lizzie Moffatt. Photo by Moriah Campbell.

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