Encore's 'Little Women' Fun For All Ages

The production of Little Women: The Musical  is a strong start to the 2011 season.  Assistant Artistic Director Steve DeBruyne, in his directorial debut, put together a show that is beautiful to both watch and listen.

While the pace of the show clips along, it clocks in at over two hours.  Little Women, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, is enjoyable and well suited for families. The story follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they grow up during the Civil War.

Katie Hardy, as Jo, is outstanding in the lead role.  She was adorably awkward in her movements playing the tomboy, especially her first scene in a dress. Hardy has an energy and a stage presence that really keep you entertained through this lengthy show.

Cara AnnMarie, as Beth, has the voice of an angel.  Her sweet demeanor is a nice balance to the stronger characters. She is heartbreaking in the second act, perfectly portraying her character's sickness and death.

Rusty Mewha, as Professor Bhaer, was an excellent last minute addition to the cast.  Mewha stepped in about a week before the show opened on Feb. 3 after the original actor was injured.  His performance was solid, despite the time frame, proving him to be a sound professional actor.

Madison Deadman, as Amy, was the show's standout for me. Deadman has an amazing voice, and easily held her own with the professional actors.  Her talent brought me to tears twice in the course of the show, which is no easy feat.

Little Women was executed well technically.  Leo Babcock's set design was beautiful down to the very last detail.  The sound design worked seamlessly with the onstage action, even lining up with the actors lines for more emphasis in spots.

Thalia Schramm, who also played Meg, besides being a talented actress and singer, did a fantastic job creating the many wigs for the show's costumes.

Little Women runs through Feb. 27 at The Encore Musical Theatre. Call 734-268-6200 for details or to purchase tickets. Ticket prices are $28 for adults ages 18 years and older, $25 for seniors ages 55 and older, $25 for youth ages 17 and younger, and $22 each for groups of 10 or more.