Both fun and pointed, Milwaukee Rep's 'Little Women' is a lively coming-of-age story
Think of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," and more than likely you imagine sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy huddled around their mother Marmee in a nearly archetypal vision of female bonding.
But as patient, saintly Beth would tell you, those sisters are as disparate as a daisy and a chestnut burr.
Kate Hamill's feminist adaptation of Alcott's popular novel argues for a whole ecosystem of roles and destinies for young women, even in this Civil War-era setting.
Milwaukee Repertory Theater's new staging of Hamill's "Little Women," a co-production with Seattle Rep, cast the four sisters exquisitely well (a point underlined by my millennial female companion): Katie Peabody as loving homebody Beth, Cy Paolantonio as conventional firstborn Meg, Rebecca Cort as bratty Amy and Amelio Garcia, who identifies as transmasc, as Jo.
Garcia, who uses he/they pronouns, takes Jo far beyond typical tomboyishness into a deep questioning of gender roles and identity. That frequently brings the character into conflict with the world outside and particularly with Amy, always happy to point out her older sibling's failings.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun director Marti Lyons' staging is, especially in the scenes where the sisters rehearse Jo's play. Cort's Amy chews the scenery like a "Saturday Night Live" star. Milwaukee Rep recommends this production for people 10 and older. If you have a young person who enjoyed Rep's "Christmas Carol," this would be a great next play for them to see.
Austin Winter brings warmth and kindness to Laurie, the boy next door who crushes on Jo but gets friend-zoned. Local favorites Colleen Madden and Chiké Johnson play the March parents and other small adult roles.
Of course, Hamill's adaptation can't fit in everything. Amy is not as developed here as she is in the book; the play's story ends before we get to Jo's romantic development. Hamill's play emphasizes Jo's growth in self-awareness and self-acceptance.
While I admire Jo's courage, I have to confess my heart belongs to Beth. But I believe Jo's does, too. Every writer needs a loving person who says, "Tell me a story."
If you go
Milwaukee Repertory Theater performs "Little Women" through Feb. 18 at the Powerhouse Theater, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets, visit milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Rep's 'Little Women' is a lively coming-of-age story
