SHOWING : July 16, 2010 - August 08, 2010
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ACT1 Theater is proud to present Little Women, A Musical based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott.
July 16 - August 8, 2010
Every Friday and Saturday Night at 7:30pm with Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm
The story you loved as a child comes to life on stage!
Little Women, A Musical is Louisa May Alcott’s well-beloved tale of the four March sisters growing up in New England during the American Civil War. This show is sure to be a big hit with all the family or anyone who has ever loved a parent, sibling or child of their own. Don’t miss it.
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A Musical? An Operetta!
| by playgoer |
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Saturday, July 31, 2010 |
2.0
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ACT1's "Little Women" is NOT the recent Broadway musical version. Instead, to judge by the lack of authorship noted in the program and publicity, this may be a version in the public domain. Its three-act structure and its operetta score make it seem like a version from the early 1900's with an updated book. Is it bad? No. Is it good? No.
Operetta requires good voices to be effective. In general, ACT1's cast has above-average voices. They're also passable actors. The show's pace is on the slow side, though, and the show never catches fire. It's a well-intentioned, well-costumed show that provides the plot points of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," but doesn't thoroughly engage one's attention.
The musical accompaniment is fine. The set is fine and stylish. Lighting is a little odd, with lights often dimming for musical numbers, then suddenly brightening at the end. The whole thing is slightly stilted, starting with an overly-long, in-costume, mildly pedantic curtain speech.
Many of the musical numbers have dance interludes, obviously staged to make non-dancers appear to move well. The dances become a bit tiresome as the show goes on. The numerous short songs also become tiresome. The lyrics are sub-par, and the music is sweet and melodic, but nothing more. It's a little jarring when the first three songs after intermission are period songs still known today.
No one in the cast does significantly better or worse than the others, so no names will be mentioned. I'd be impressed by someone in the cast during their song or dialogue, then watch them zone out during someone else's moment. When all the actors aren't thoroughly engaged in the onstage action, it's difficult for the audience to be. I certainly wasn't entranced by this production, although I do not consider my attendance to have been a total waste of time. "Little Women, a Musical" makes for a mildly entertaining evening (or afternoon), especially for those partial to operetta. [POST A COMMENT REGARDING THIS REVIEW] |
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