The focus is on the four March sisters in Heather Chrisler’s innovative adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, “Little Women.” To keep that focus, there are only four actors in the cast. Not only do they play the sisters, three of them also take on the roles of love interests.
Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 p.m. and/or 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays Dec. 14-Jan. 15, 2023, at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook. The schedule varies, so check the website.
Chrisler, who is a First Folio Theatre artistic associate, felt that the novel “would adapt itself really well to something small,” she said. “Every adaptation of ‘Little Women’ is huge. It becomes all about the dresses and this whole older generation and that’s what’s always annoying to me.”
In Chrisler’s mind the story should be about the four girls.
To create this adaptation, Chrisler concentrated on the novel but also explored the life of author Alcott.
“She’s a hero of mine now,” Chrisler said, noting that “‘Little Women’ is a thinly veiled autobiography. There are things about my adaptation that lean more toward the Alcott experience than the March experience.”
Chrisler is convinced that a play on stage can never capture the realism of a film so she doesn’t strive for that, focusing instead on bringing theatricality to her adaptation.
That includes doing such things as making ribbons substitute for ice skates and intentionally using anachronisms. The audience may even see a performer put on a completely different costume onstage.
“I never wanted this adaptation to be tied down to just the most moneyed houses,” she explained. “I wanted anybody to be able to do it. I wanted little theaters to be able to pick it up and do it with some boxes and blue jeans. I also wanted to allow for more inclusive casting.”
The production was scheduled to run in the spring of 2020 but was shut down just before tech week because of the pandemic. Since First Folio was scheduled to stage the world premiere back then, it is still being given that honor, even though the play has already been staged at two other venues. There was a workshop production at Ohio University and a full production at TCR Theatre in Iowa.
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The four actors originally slated to play the sisters are committed to other projects so there’s a new cast. Shelby Lynn Bias plays Jo, the character based on author Alcott. Stephanie Fongheiser is eldest sister Meg, and also plays Professor Bhaer, who woos Jo.
Jamie Herb plays Beth and Laurie, the March’s wealthy next door neighbor Theodore Laurence. Esther Fishbein is the youngest sister Amy and Laurie’s tutor John Brooke.
There’s also a new director, First Folio Artistic Associate Melanie Keller, who has loved the novel on which this adaptation is based since she was a child.
“I read the book first when I was about 10 years old. I just fell in love with the idea of being one of four sisters and having playmates to act out all of my ridiculous plays with,” said Keller, who was an only child.
Keller indicated that she also loves Chrisler’s adaptation.
“She has remained so true to Louis May Alcott’s voice,” the director said. “Lots of the dialogue is taken directly from the novel.”
Keller said that through the use of four actors playing all the roles, “Heather is inviting the audience to come with us on a very theatrical ride.”
There are only minimal costume changes.
“It’s really the power of the writing and the acting that is going to see that transformation,” Keller explained. She additionally praised the theatrical devices that the adapter has infused into the show. “They’re imaginative in ways that the girls themselves are imaginative,” the director added.
Keller said, “Audiences will see a familiar story in a new way.”
There will be captioned performances for the deaf and hearing impaired at 8 p.m. Dec. 30 and 4 p.m. Jan. 7, 2023.
‘Little Women’
When: previews Dec. 14-16; regular run Dec. 17-Jan. 15, 2023
Where: First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook
Tickets: $44-$59; $20 for students; $29 for previews
Information: 630-986-8067; firstfolio.org
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.