A Review of Anne-Marie Casey’s Little Women at the Oxford Playhouse

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is a beloved classic, so many of us having read the story of the March sisters during our youth. We all have our favourite sister, our favourite story lines… our opinion on Jo and Laurie. It is a brave undertaking to bring this story to life, yet here we have Anne-Marie Casey’s new adaptation. Premiering in 2022, this production is already halfway through its UK tour and selling well if opening night in Oxford is anything to go by. Expectations are high and hopeful, but are they lived up to?

The story has been, of course, simplified; certain characters and plots being removed so as to streamline the novels for the stage. Yet, despite this, fans will be glad to hear that many of the most familiar lines remain intact. I was sad to see the loss of Mr Lawrence’s character, missing the soft relationship between him and Beth, but for the most part beloved storylines are present and correct. Meg is perhaps a little less preoccupied with wealth, Amy’s story a little less fully drawn, but this is ultimately Jo’s story and her progression is traced out with perfect clarity.

Grace Molony brings an energy and presence to the role of Jo, throwing herself into this ambitious and restless character. She embodies the masculinity through her physical performance, being perhaps a little too emphasised for subtlety. But when has this character ever been described as subtle? Opening night came with some surprises; two understudies took to the stage to cover the roles of Mr Brooke and Marmee. The former role being in fact twofold, as the actor takes on the only occasion of multi-rolling within this small cast. Jim Kelly’s performances as both Brooke and Professor Bhaer are compelling and undeniably loveable. There is a sweetness in his characters, yet each love interest is individual and as fully drawn as the script allows.

Designer Ruari Murchison brings one of the most famous literary houses to life with a cluttered simplicity. The set blends interior and exterior in an unusual design of living space and silver birch trunks, allowing the characters to move between the house and the surrounding area with ease. Other than some dressing, the set remains the same throughout the first half and only changes slightly after the interval. This choice highlights how central the home is to this story, almost becoming one of the characters in itself, and works well within the context of the play.

Something that I didn’t necessarily expect from this production was the humour. Many moments that I had never considered funny before have humour breathed into them; the girls dramatic and temperamental, Aunt March an over the top encouragement to laugh. This take on the story could so easily turn the classic into something absurd and mocking and yet it works. This is a story about the trials and tribulations of growing up and could easily become somewhat depressing, so perhaps bringing out the humour is exactly what it needed.

This is a play which is both for the longstanding fan and anyone who has not yet encountered the March sisters. Casey and director Loveday Ingram have clearly poured love and creativity into this production and it is present within every scene, with each actor breathing life into the beloved characters with ease. There is a sense of cohesiveness, both within the company and the way in which the story coming perfectly full circle to end with those familiar opening lines. This is a wonderfully realised show which is well worth catching over the next month (or next few days if you are in Oxford)!