Little Women, the classic story by Louisa May Alcott, is being brought to life by Tree House Youth Theatre next month.
The beloved tale of Jo March and her sisters Beth, Meg and Amy will unfold on stage with a cast of 13- to 17-year-olds at the Nickle Studio starting Dec. 12. This adaptation by Marisha Chamberlain is true to the original 1869 book, but is also “relevant to the world we live in today,” said the company’s artistic director Albertus Koett.
In Chamberlain’s play, the March sisters are striving to find their true selves, under the shadow of poverty, illness, sibling rivalry and the American Civil War.
“Jo March is a wonderful protagonist, with a strong, independent view point,” said Koett. “She stands proud and steadfast against the expectations that society has placed upon her as a woman — which is something that I admire, and think is a great message to give to our audiences.”
The theme of perseverance through adversity is played out in a Christmas setting for much of the play.
”I see Little Women as a warm, cozy blanket… I hope that it can evoke memories of Christmas past,” added Koett.
A younger Tree House crew, aged 9-12, will perform an original piece called The Witches Curse as an opener for Little Women. It’s based on the fictional play that Jo March writes in the novel, but is actually written and performed by the local youths.
“We are branching out to beyond simply Tree House participants being actors, and allowing for opportunities for them to also work on the other side of the stage” in costuming, props, stage management and playwrighting, said Koett.
The shows run Dec. 12-14 and 19-21 in the Nickle Studio, upstairs at the Red Deer Memorial Centre.
For tickets, please contact the Black Knight Ticket Centre. For more information, please visit www.treehouseyouththeatre.ca.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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