Photo by Haley Harned
“I could never love anyone as I love my sisters.” — Jo March, “Little Women”
Women’s voices. Women’s stories. Women’s words.
Open Stage of Harrisburg’s shows have focused on women this past year—from “Fun Home” to “Akeelah and the Bee” to “Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties.”
The season now comes to a close with “Little Women,” based on the book by Louisa May Alcott. While it remains faithful to Alcott’s beloved classic, the play is an original adaptation by local writer Laura Dugan.
The season of women’s voices was the brainchild of Stuart Landon, producing artistic director for Open Stage.
“Stuart approached me last year with this idea,” Dugan explained. “But he said he needed something to end the season.”
She suggested her favorite book, “Little Women,” of which there were already theatrical adaptations, including a musical. However, Landon asked Dugan to write a new one.
“Our season was dedicated to lifting up women’s voices,” Landon said. “What better way to include more women’s voices than to bring a local writer on board to create new work?”
Undertaking the writing of a play, however, was something Dugan had never done before. Landon had every confidence in her abilities, however.
“She knows this story like the back of her hand,” Landon added.
As well she should. Dugan, who describes herself as a “voracious reader,” estimates that she first read the novel at age 12 or so and has read it probably once a year since then.
“I usually read it at Christmas,” she explained. “And if I ever need a good cry, I pull it out.”
Jo is the March sister Dugan most closely identifies with.
“I’m not a tomboy,” she said. “But the writing and being creative and loving to read is like Jo. I can also identify with Beth a bit, from the perspective of being the ‘peacemaker.’ My sister calls me ‘Pollyanna.’”
Knowing your favorite book almost by heart is one thing—but writing your first play based on that book?
Like a lot of writers, Dugan began with an outline of what scenes to include. That, however, turned out to be the first tough spot. Obviously, not everything that Dugan and millions of other readers loved about the story could remain. An early draft didn’t seem too long to Dugan, but a later revision found her cutting about 7,000 words.
The question of what to cut and what to keep came down to one rule.
“Ultimately, this is Jo’s story,” Dugan stated. “So any scene that did not advance Jo’s story had to be cut.”
Most actors and directors work from published scripts, which means the playwright is not present at all during the process. So, was Dugan’s presence a blessing or a bit nerve-wracking?
Jeff Luttermoser, who plays Laurie, definitely found it to be an advantage.
“Laura is clearly invested in our production,” he said. “She’s open to questions, changes and ideas from the production team, and that collaborative environment has been exciting. We’re working on characters that are iconic…and Laura really helps guide us so that we do them justice.”
Developing the characters was one of several benefits of the read-throughs. Changes not just to the script, but to some extent, the way the characters were portrayed, ended up being directly related to seeing what each actor brought to the table.
Also, some issues with language were identified at this time.
“Hearing it [versus reading it] has greater impact,” Dugan explained. “For example, ‘ain’t’ was used a lot in that era, which just sounds too informal now. And the type of the phrasing Alcott used just didn’t work for modern ears.”
The five March women—mother Marmee and the four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—often defy our expectations of 19th-century women. With the Civil War having taken Mr. March away for a great deal of the story, the strength and self-reliance of the women shine through. That self-reliance was one of the elements that Landon liked, especially with the character of Marmee.
“He liked that she was shown as a strong woman running a household on her own,” Dugan explained.
For her part, Dugan especially loves the relationship between Marmee and the headstrong Jo.
“I tried to keep in Marmee’s ‘touchstones,’” she said. “She teaches Jo about being true to yourself, and she encourages her to improve herself, but always in a kind and gentle way.”
Neither Landon nor Dugan saw any need to modernize the play.
“It was important for me to stay true to Alcott, but also make it approachable for an audience of today,” Dugan said. “It wasn’t my intention to specifically create a feminist piece, but the elements are definitely there, as they are in the book. But it is largely about relationships, most of which happen to be between women, and it is largely women providing the support for each other.”
And the March women are neither saintly nor old-fashioned in their struggles. Competitiveness between siblings, lashing out when misunderstood, and rebelling against societal expectations are still familiar problems in today’s world. Even Marmee, who often comes across as “The Angel in the House,” as the Victorians described the “ideal” subservient wife, tells her daughter, “I am angry nearly every day of my life, Jo, but I’ve learned not to show it. And I still hope not to feel it.”
Ultimately, Dugan said, she feels the overarching themes of the play are the power of words and the power of sisters.
“Jo has always found solace in words,” she said. “I think this story shows the ability of words to heal and comfort.”
And the March girls always manage to find comfort in the words and company of their sisters, much like many women of today turn to other women—not only sisters, but friends, mentors, colleagues and neighbors—in time of need.
Jo March once said of a piece of writing, “I don’t understand it. What can there be in a simple story like that to make people praise it so?”
As if in answer to her query, Landon stated that the new adaptation of “Little Women” “is so human, so American, so beloved. We know audiences are going to fall in love with the story all over again.”
UPCOMING THEATER EVENTS
AT HARRISBURG’S PROFESSIONAL
DOWNTOWN THEATERS
At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111
The Popcorn Hat Players Present
“Aesop’s Fables”
June 6 to 16
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online at gamuttheatre.org or at the door.
25th Annual Free Shakespeare in the Park
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
June 7 to 17
Wednesday to Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Reservoir Park, Harrisburg
At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736
GALA180
June 2
Open Stage celebrates 33 years of thought-provoking theater at this glamorous event. gala180.com
“Little Women”
June 8 to 30
Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic is brought to life in a glorious adaptation by local writer Laura Dugan and filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love.
“Seussical The Musical”
Kids Summer Camp
June 11 to 30
Kids explore the magical world of Dr. Seuss through dance, song, acting and design! Open to ages 8 to 13. Registration at openstagehbg.com.
