Entertainment
Alcott classic comes alive in new production
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Oct 1, 2009 - 3:27 PM

How do you follow up a testosterone-ridden classic drama like Twelve Angry Men? Easy. Mount another American classic, this time aimed at the distaff side of the aisle, and Curtain Call does just that with its next production – Little Women, playing in The Dressing Room Theatre October 16 to November 1.

Since it was first written over 150 years ago, Little Women has become one of the most enduring pieces of American literature with at least 14 feature film versions, numerous stage adaptations (including a traditional musical theatre outing and an opera) and even several anime incarnations! What makes this so popular probably has much to do with the fact that the story was based loosely on the experiences of Alcott herself.

Directing this adaptation written by Marian DeForest is Westchester resident Carin Zakes who is new to the Curtain Call team. “I’ve known of Carin’s directing work for quite some time now and was thrilled that she was available for this production,” said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call executive director and producer of this play. “She has a great passion for this piece and a great respect for the original source material so I’m very excited about the work going on in rehearsals,” he added.

“Little Women is what I call one of my “DNA books”, said Zakes. “I loved the story as a young girl, as did both of my daughters. The coming of age adventures of the March girls resonate deeply with me. Each misadventure, each success, each sadness is described so simply and tellingly, that it is easy to be swept up in to the warmth of the March household. How many of us have wondered how we might become members of this extended family or pondered, “Which daughter am I?,” she added.

The central themes of adolescence and identity, poverty and wealth that run through Little Women are universal and timeless. The March family, although poor, is always ready to help others in need. The children are taught social responsibility and the importance of community from a young age. The author challenged conventional assumptions about women of the period. The strong feminist mother character, Marmee, encouraged her daughters to seek their own fulfillment. Jo March is the personification of female independence. Boys and girls, men and women, can identify with Jo as she rails against convention and societal norms. Children are portrayed as living, breathing people with actual character flaws. The March girls each own up to their weaknesses and struggle to improve themselves, giving audiences the ability to identify with their imperfections. This is the perfect all-family entertainment.

The cast of Little Women includes many performers new to Curtain Call as well. They are from STAMFORD: Jackie Abbott and Annalisa DiNucci; TRUMBULL: Tess Brown, RYE BROOK, NY: Emma Green and Sea McHale. Those actors returning to the Curtain Call stage are: SANDY HOOK: Meghan Elliot, NEW CANAAN: Dan Fitzgerald, MILFORD: Luke Lynch, STRATFORD: Jacquie MacLean, NORWALK: Elayne Mordoff: and from STAMFORD: Jim Ringel and Ted Yudain. In addition to Zakes, the production team includes production design by Peter Barbieri, Jr. of Ossining, NY, costumes by Solveig Plueger of Suffield, CT, and stage management by Sara Zimmerman of Stamford.

Little Women will play Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm in The Dressing Room theatre which is a Bring Your Own Everything cabaret-style performance space. Doors open one hour before curtain to allow patrons time to enjoy their own snacks and beverages. Ticket prices for all performances are: $26 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $13 for adults. Discounted Flex Passes offer savings of up to 35% off regular prices. Thrifty Thursday passes bring the adult ticket price down to $17. Call the Box Office for details at 203-461-6358 x13. Individual show tickets are also available online at www.curtaincallinc.com.

Curtain Call is the non-profit community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. Year-round productions and workshops are presented by and for area residents in The Kweskin Theatre and The Dressing Room Theatre. It was voted Fairfield County’s BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the Annual Readers’ Poll of The Fairfield County Weekly and BEST LIVE THEATRE by the readers of Stamford Plus magazine for 2008 and 2009. The rest of the season includes: A Merry Mulberry Street Musical, Catch-22, Driving Miss Daisy, The Full Monty, The Graduate, Hello Dolly, and I Remember Mama.

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