Little Women Broadway Comes To Waimea This Weekend!

As a preeminent training ground for young singers, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival doubles the opportunities for young stars of the future to shine. Little Women, the Broadway musical version is playing at the Kahilu Theater Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21 at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now – Here is the link: 

Little Women All Grown Up –

Most principal roles feature different artists at each of the two performances, Little Women, the much-loved novel by Louisa May Alcott, became a Broadway Musical in 2005. We can now enjoy the love, laughter, whimsy, poignancy, tragedy, beauty, talent, and sheer joy of music at this season’s Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s production of Little Women: The Broadway Musical at the Kahilu Theatre. Beautifully directed by Beth Bornstein Dunnington, charming choreography by Debra McGee, with costumes by Michelle Hartmann, set projections by Brittany Merenda, and a world–class orchestra masterfully conducted by Justin John Moniz, this is an evening to remember.

The curtain opens to a background projection of the March sitting room adorned with shadow silhouettes of the four March sisters, but quickly morphs into window glimpses of an urban scene that lets us know we are in New York City. We find feisty Jo March (Elena Montero Mulligan, Ryanne Solinsky) decrying to her mentor, Professor Bhaer (Sanju Ebanks), the fact that her most recent story has been rejected once again. She leaps to a soapbox to enact her vision for the Professor, and it comes to life beside her, played out in costume and sung with passion, the actors mirroring Jo’s actions. “Blood and guts,” she declares, is what the masses want. Professor Bhaercautions her that she can do better. We know she eventually will, when she writes what she knows— the true story of her family, her three beloved sisters, each so different, her dignified, wise mother, and her wonderful neighbors, the Laurences: Laurie (Logan Pavia, Evan Shields) and Mr. Laurence, the grandfather (Daniel Belcher). Dreams, desires, and destiny determine the fabric of this story.

The orchestra plays an essential role in our experience. It begins lively and impassioned, exuberant along with Jo, but already containing hints of deeper issues to come. The Civil War is on. Mr. March is away and in danger. Beth’s life will hang in the balance. During a formal Ball, the orchestra transforms itself into a mannered drawing room ensemble, then swells into the drama of Laurie’s dreams and wishes. For the charming distraction of “Off to Massachusetts,”we hear only the piano as Beth transforms the grumpy Mr. Laurence through her innocence and genuineness.

Jo and her sisters with Marmee and Laurie provide endless opportunities for duets, trios, quartets and quintets. We are treated to all of these, to our delight. These folks can sing, and they do. They can also act. As Marmee, Morgan Lane is wise and sedate, saving her inner turmoil for her solo “Days of Plenty.” Gabriella Schafer is more light hearted, but she, too, pulls at your heart strings. On Saturday, Elena Montero Mulligan’s Jo is fierce and feisty. Sunday’s Jo, RyanneSolinsky, is defiant, determined, and longing. As Beth, Tori Hitchcock is notable for a certain enchanting twinkle in her eye. Elysa Raquel Hernandez is delicate and wistful. All have stunning voices.

The contrast to the delightful March’s comes in the form of Aunt March, chilly and haughty on Saturday with Jingxuan Zhang and snippy and critical on Sunday with Alina Reitz. And, as always, with lovely voices. Laurie is given a chance to show off both musical skill and danceexpertise. The raucous quintet, “Five Forever,” has a flourish as its finale. Laurie leaps effortlessly into the air and clicks his heels and both actors elicit well-earned whoops and applause.

Scene changes are seamless and magical, well suited to this story of dreams and desires, thanks to the talents of projection designer Brittany Merenda. We see Jo in her attic writing her heart out, Marmee alone in her sitting room pouring out her heart to the walls, that she is “Here Alone,” the opulent skylight of the home where the Ball transpires, stormy skies, romantic skies, ominous skies. Lace adorned hoop skirted dresses are the real sets in this play; we never forget we are in the midst of the Civil War.

While this tale is titled “Little Women” and it is truly Jo’s story both as author and main character, there are three weddings that take place, or will after the curtain rings down. Meg (Francesca Fioravanti, Karoline Larsen) is our first bride, swept off her feet at the Ball by Mr. John Brooke (Mark Hosseini). The proposal will surely bring a tear to more than a few eyes, not least due to the lovely singing. Amy (Caroline Hendron, Madeline Becher) surprises us as the youngest of the brides. Taken to Europe by wealthy Aunt March, Amy runs into Laurie who, having been turned down by Jo, is mending his broken heart abroad. We hear the romantic tale of the Bridge of Sighs and the gondola beautifully sung. Jo will do great things, and Amy and Laurie will be deliriously happy. The third wedding we only glimpse. Jo and Professor Bhaeracknowledge their differences and find that they can be the strength to last a lifetime.

From the whimsy of “Off to Massachusetts” to the heartbreak of “Here Alone” and Professor Bhaer’s “How I Am,” we smile and laugh with the March family, and occasionally we shed a tear. Even Aunt March has evolved a tad and has told Jo that her house will eventually be Jo’s. Jo tells us that she and Professor Bhaer will start a school. We can leave the theatre secure in the knowledge that all will be well. The March girls are all grown up.

There are two chances to see this heart stopping show. Performances run Saturday, July 20 and Sunday July 21 at 3pm at Kahilu Theatre. A special “Behind the Curtain” event will be held at 2pm each day. Tickets for both performances may be purchased at the Kahilu Theatre box office, https://kahilutheatre.org/ or via phone at (808) 885-6868. For more information about Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, please visit: HawaiiPerformingArtsFestival.org.

by Lisa Chu-Thielbar

Little Women, The Broadway Musical

Music: Jason Howland, Lyrics: Mindy Dickstein, Book: Allan Knee