"Little Women" comes to Samo

Imagine war. The most immediate thing we think of are families starving, wrapped in torn blankets, men covered in blood and mud, diseases spreading like wildfire and people with grim expressions on their faces. No sunshine, no color, no smiles. Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” takes place during the ugly epoch of the American Civil War, but instead of highlighting society’s sadness, Alcott emphasizes the four March sisters’ coming of age relationships with one another and their strong will to do something with their lives. So why not turn such a charming yet deep story into one acted on the stage under bright lights?Thanks to Marisha Chamberlain’s interpretation of “Little Women,” the book-turned-play has traveled to many stages, now including Samo’s. Along with acting out the play’s original script, the performance included an epilogue that theatre director Kate Soller wrote. Soller says it added another 25 characters to the story and helped the storyline remain true to the book.Senior Raven Bennet, who plays the oldest sister, Meg March, said that the book and the play reflect each other well, and recognized the benefits of combining the two.“I don’t think the fact that it is based on a book changes it that much,” Bennet said. “The themes translate onto the stage rather well.”Junior Sophie Thomason plays Beth March, and thinks that the dramatic storyline helps enunciate its timeless qualities.“I think it was the most dramatic thing I’ve been in, since I’ve acted in more comedic plays,” Thomason said. “The fact that its based on such a classic book played a part of it being so dramatic.”Chamberlain’s version of the story left out parts that Soller believes to be crucial to the story.“She cut out a lot of pieces and from my experience reading ‘Little Women,’ I felt like she left out some really important parts,” Soller said. “For example, Jo getting married, and her experience in New York in the boarding house. And Amy going off to Europe and ending up marrying Laurie.”Therefore Soller decided to write an epilogue, which follows the book’s story but not the play’s.“I added a part to the end of it and it helped to include another 25 characters, which gave the play more depth,” Soller said. “That way it’s more like the book. I used a lot of the language just straight from Louisa May Alcott’s original book, ‘Little Women.’”Of course, taking creatie choices often comes with a risk. The epilogue, as creative as it was, did  not flow cohesively from the first act. Additionally, some creative casting decisions caused confusion. Youngest sister Amy was played by two different actresses, while the every other character was played by the same actor, regardless of the time change.  This inconsistency was unnecessary and confusing. However, these changes gave many actors more opportunities for growth. This production welcomed many new actors to the theatre program, giving both theatre veterans and new underclassmen a chance to shine.In a continuation of this theme of collaboration, Soller gave many students the chance to give their own interpretation to the play.“Sometimes the students have ideas that I would never think of, and they’re really great ideas,” Soller said. “I don’t want to come in at the very beginning and push my point of view on them or push my idea on them. I want to see what they give me and work with them from there.”Bennet said that though it was based on a book, the play remains true to the story.“I don’t think the fact that it is based on a book changes it that much,” Bennet said. “The themes translate onto the stage rather well.”The overall theme, regardless of it being on the pages of a book or acted out on the stage, is strongly implemented throughout. Bennet says that the four sisters are what make the story have so much depth, and that this coming of age theme is what the play really tried to represent.“It is important that women know they have many potential tracks in life,” Bennet said. “Each sister has a very different personality and stays true to it. To me this is important because life has the meaning one brings to it. Each of the March sisters brings her own meaning to her life.”abiraben@thesamohi.com