Little Women

Old Mill Theatre’s Little Women is a beautiful coming of age story, of family and love, set in the 1860s. Presented with fine acting and beautiful polish, it is charming capacity audiences.

Reviewers can be reluctant to describe shows as “gentle”, as it can often be a euphemism for slow or boring, but gentle is the perfect description for this well paced, and at moments quite exciting show. It is lovely, in that there are no real villains, and it touches the heart, bringing both tears and genuine laughter.

Little Women features four (or five) leading ladies who sing beautifully (under the guidance of musical directors Katherine and Justin Freind), and work well together creating a genuine family feel. Matilda Jenkins sings well as Jo, capturing the swagger and humour of the role particularly well. Grace Johnson is a perfect oldest sister as Meg, sweetly romantic, caring and motherly. Kate Sisley is a lovely Beth - strong, despite Beth’s frailty and beautifully nuanced. Two actresses share the role of youngest sister Amy, very nicely matched in looks and personality. Cadence Smythe is full of verve as young Amy, spiteful but always loveable, while Georgia McGivern makes the most of her two scenes as older Amy, giving us a grown-up Amy with lots of the spark of her girlhood.

Penelope Colgan is a Marnee very reminiscent of the novel, wise and kind. Tate Bennett gives Laurie Laurence lots of spark, and shows a growing maturity through the story.

Some strong support came from Craig Menner as seemingly stern neighbour Mr Laurence, Joshua “Lux” Towns as a charming John Brooke and Kieren Marley as Professor Bhaer. Rosalyn Anderson is a younger than expected but formidable Aunt March. Jenny Trestrail adds colour in the small role of Mrs Kirk.

George Boyd has created a set that serves the production well, with a lovely sense of warmth, while John Woolrych has created a lighting design that allows emotion to flow. Michelle Sharp’s costumes are era and character appropriate and lovely to look at. The women’s hairstyles are particularly striking and handled beautifully, although some of the men’s styling is rather anachronistic. Special mention to props co-ordinator Jenny Trestrail for some excellent detail.

A touching, feel-good musical that is presented with great care and will melt the hardest of hearts. A lovely Christmas gift to its audiences.

Kimberley Shaw