Little Women, performed by Old Saybrook High School dRAMa Club on November 14th, 15th, and 16th, is a true reflection of how hard the actors and actresses worked to create a riveting play. Director Nicole Willis, in her second year , started auditions and practice in early September. She was thrilled with opening night, stating, “it went spectacular, and I think the kids got better and better as the weekend went on, they kept rising to the next level.”
Little Women follows the lives of 4 sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, through their transition from childhood to adulthood in the midst of the American Civil War. While their father is away, the sisters use the guidance of their mom, Marmee, to grapple with love, hardship, sacrifice, and their own individual problems. The play portrays strong ideas of womanhood, sisterhood, and even going against the patriarchy as Jo, an aspiring writer, struggles with temper and independence.
The play is narrated by an older version of Jo, played by Abby Minager, who makes the play easy to understand, giving the audience a little extra narration without any extra dialogue. Sam Walsh, in the role of Jo March, perfectly embodied the spirited, hot-tempered, ambitious girl who aspires to be a writer. Meg March, played by Shelby Pauloski, is a vain, romantic, and beautiful character who tries to keep the peace as the eldest daughter. Beth March, played by Maggie Stanley, is a shy, gentle, quiet character who is known for her piano skills. Lastly, Amy March, played by Tess Santarsiero, stars as a selfish and spoiled child, but grows into an artistic, well-mannered, and complex character as the story progresses. Santarsiero says she was inspired by Florence Pugh, who played Jo in the movie version of Little Women. Preparing for a play isn’t always the easiest, she adds, “It takes a lot of time and dedication, but I am very proud of myself for being able to do it given the many lines I had.”
Not only did the actors do their part on the stage with their fun costumes and amazing monologues, but the stage crew, lead by Alex Hirst, delivered every scene change smoothly, keeping the show moving at an excellent pace. The stage was set with a wonderfully made house with stairs, a couch, a piano, and a bedroom. Throughout, the stage transitioned from a cozy countryside house, to an outside balcony with trees and fences. The stage was built by Benjamin Willis, Mrs. Willis’ husband, and her brother, Jon Palmer. The variety of sets and scene changes made the play extremely intriguing. In addition, the set has never been as elaborate for the play, only the musical. This set doubles both for the play and the musical, Chicago which OSHS Drama will present the 1st weekend in March! Willis says she’s “excited to showcase all of our talented young actors, and to put a spotlight on our magnificent senior class.
