Little Women at the Lowry review: an energetic take on classic tale of sisterly love

Hard to fault this energetic production, infused with emotional intelligence

Something about Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women has resonated with readers over the course of three centuries.

The story of the March sisters, in particular the irrepressible Jo, and their attempts to navigate a society railguarded by wealth and propriety has endured through generations.

This production, adapted by Anne-Marie Casey, provides an accessible and authentic retelling of the first two books in Alcott’s quartet of stories.

Fans of this classic will not be disappointed.

The story is delivered by an eight-strong cast, who invite us into an intimate world of family life, where fun and freedom regularly chafe against financial hardship and societal constraints.

The touring production was initially devised for smaller theatres in Pitlochry, Coventry and Blackpool.

The set, initially developed for a more intimate space, isn’t lavish but serves as an effective multi-purpose backdrop for indoor and outdoor scenes.

The cast hold their accents well and - supported by impressive period costumes - the audience is in no doubt that they’ve been transported to the genteel world of mid-century America.

Largely faithful to the source material, it’s a long production and fans will enjoy seeing their favorite literary moments recreated - from petty acts of injury, such as Amy burning her sister’s novel, through to moments of bravery with Jo selling her hair to support her family.

With so much material to cover, the audience certainly gets their money’s worth.

But perhaps, once or twice, the dialogue is a little too brisk and the pacing choppy, as the story weaves through the years. I couldn’t help feel that additional beats or quieter moments would help the pacing.

An example is the character arc of Laurie, who pingpongs from carefree juvenile to rejected drunk to somewhat bitter cynic - within the space of a few scenes, with seemingly few cues to explain the Jekyll-Hyde transformation.

Nonetheless, it’s hard to fault the acting in this solid production.

Grace Molony carries the story as Jo. She gives an energetic and convincing performance, conveying the character’s uncompromising independence.

Fellow cast members are equally convincing. Honeysuckle Weeks, well-known from TV, plays matriarch Marmee with warmth and vulnerability. Her scenes were compelling to watch.

There’s comedy in the guise of Aunt March (Belinda Lang), who in true Maggie Smith style, is armed with the best lines and delivers them with savage joy.

This is a story which people will turn to time and time again. All the pathos and emotional connection of the original story are there on the stage to see. Believable moments of sisterly love and rivalry - are as relevant now as they were in 1860.

But fans of the books - and indeed those new to the story - can be assured of an energetic production, infused with emotional intelligence, that faithfully renders this much-loved classic.

Little Women runs at the Lowry until Sat April 12. Tickets and prices here.