Jo – The Little Women Musical ★★★★★

By The Recs JEM 3 weeks ago

‘Jo – The Little Women Musical’ is a new musical adaptation bringing the classic novel alive in this world premiere semi-staged concert.

Louisa May Alcott wrote her semi-autobiographical novel Little Women over 150 years ago and there have been countless adaptations ever since. This one-off performance – entitled Jo – The Little Women Musical – is the latest to bring Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March to life, and it does so with pricision and passion. The narrative concentrates on Jo and her journey. A spirited and determined aspiring writer growing up amidst the American Civil War, this coming-of-age story unfolds accompanied by a sweeping cinematic score played by a 27-piece orchestra. 

The March sisters burst on to the stage with the catchy ‘The Pickwick Portfolio‘. The energy of this number and the interactions between the actors anticipate the rest of the production which gallops along at pace. The harmonies are delightful, and the scene flawlessly choreographed. Jo’s first solo number, ‘Journey‘, showcases Christine Allado‘s powerful vocals beautifully. Allado is magnificent as our plucky heroine, embodying the character with her zest and sparkle. The chemistry between Jo and next door neighbour Laurie (Tobias Turley) is spot on, their effortless camaraderie apparent when they meet at a New Year’s Eve ball. 

Images by Roger Alarcon

The other March sisters are also brilliantly portrayed by Kelly Mathieson (Meg), Eleanor Grant (Beth), and Sophie Pollono (Amy). Mathieson’s soaring soprano in ‘The Simple Truth‘ is mesmerising. The enchanting melody of ‘My Captive Heart‘, the love ballad between Amy and Laurie, is wonderfully performed by Pollono and Turley. Grant’s Beth is understated yet poignant. 

West End legends Kerry Ellis as Marmee and Julian Ovenden as Father complete the March family unit. Ellis’s delivery of lyrical ballad ‘Between the Earth and Sky‘ is especially captivating. Tracie Bennett as Aunt March brings acerbic wit and humour to her character, whilst not slipping into a caricature. 

In Act Two, the attention shifts to pastures new for Jo as she moves to New York. In the rousing opening number ‘Sincerely, New York‘, we meet Professor Bhaer (Chris Mann). The romantic chemistry between Jo and Bhaer is palpable during ‘When Nighttime Falls‘ with its dreamy lyrics. We also see Amy in a different location, on her tour of Europe with Aunt March. Tracie Bennett’s brilliant comedic scenes are seamlessly directed and choreographed by JoAnn M Hunter, with the addition of the flawless ensemble of Lydia Bannister, William Bozier, Michel Lin and Gabriella Tooma. The interwoven themes of sisterhood, family, love and ambition reach a crescendo with Jo’s finale ‘This is Our Story’, again performed by Allado with gusto.

The trio Dan Redfeld (music), and Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej (book and lyrics) have created a magical listening experience. Having first started working on the concept 30 years ago, it has been worth the wait. Redfeld’s grand compositions are compelling, and the orchestration is rich and sophisticated.

By the very nature of a semi-staged concert, Elin Steele‘s set is minimal : a sofa, table and piano. The lighting by Rory Beaton is subtle yet effective, especially during ‘A Prayer for Beth‘, a haunting choral number where the other sisters are illuminated, appearing to wear halos. Nick Pugh‘s sound is faultless. Amii McIntosh‘s costumes are sometimes unusual but dazzling nonetheless. 

But it is Christine Allado who steals the show with her sheer vitality. She injects just the right amount of idealism and naivety into Jo with her elegant and emotional performance, endearing her character to the audience from the off. With her commanding vocals at its core, Jo March’s voice has never sounded stronger. 

Little Women, Big Future ★★★★★ 5 stars

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