ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603030002
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
Seems sort of strange to sing and dance one's way through a story as sedate as "Little Women," but Showtimers' current production - "Jo" - does exactly that.
The play hits the highlights of the famous Louisa May Alcott story, set in and around the March home in Harmony, Mass. Jo (Vanessa Davies), Meg (Carrie Dixon), Beth (Alexis Black) and Amy (Virginia Anderson) are trying to keep their spirits merry on a Christmas that lacks presents and their father, who is away at war.
Marmee (Jayne Brill) has received a letter from her husband, which she reads to her daughters. But it takes a little bit more - an invitation to a New Year's Eve dance - to cheer them up.
That's where Jo meets Laurie (Micah Bird) and Meg meets her Mr. Brooke, played by Richard Kirkwood.
There's only one big-enough voice in this "Little Women" - and that belongs to Kirkwood, who did good things on the Showtimers stage in "The Nerd" and was the terrific, resonating voice of the interviewer in "The Shadow Box." Davies and Black manage well enough; the rest have to compensate with charm, and do so fairly well.
Betty Harden is a hoot as crotchety Aunt March, and Tommy Beckner has some fun with the annoying Freddie.
But all in all, "Jo" is a good bit more unpolished than many previous Showtimers productions - which didn't seem to bother its opening night audience one iota. The "let's put on a show" quality of "Jo" somehow fits perfectly, as if the audience is being treated to one of the March sisters' attic exercises in make-believe.
Maybe that's not what director Lee Cruise intended, but it works fine in any case and apparently wins lots of points with Showtimers regulars.
"Jo" will be performed tonight at 8, Sunday at 2 p.m., then Wednesday through March 9 at 8 p.m., with a final performance at 2 p.m. on March 10 at Showtimers Studio. Tickets are $10. Call 774-2660.
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB