Little Women

From an 1868-1869 printing of “Little Women.”

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Miami Valley Christian Academy Slide Show

The beautiful slide show photos posted below are photos from the Miami Valley Christian Academy Octtober 21 and 22, 2014 production of "Little Women"are posted with the gracious permission of Lisa Bauman, Drama DirectorMiami Valley Christian Academy, Cincinnati, OH.

We also would like to credit and offer specal thanks to Sandy Moreland who took over 200 photos of the production, all of which have been graciously made available for to us for our use on this site.

                                    “LITTLE WOMEN”

                                               A Romantic Play

                                                                              by John Donald O’Shea

                                                  SYNOPSIS

    This is a rather faithful adaptation for the of Louisa May Alcott "Little Women."

This is the story of four young American women - three teen-agers and
their 12 year old sister - during and after the American Civil War.

    This adaptation closely follows the main story-line of Ms. Alcottt’s long novel.

    It is the story of four young women raised by parents who lived their own lives around the teachings of the Bible and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

    And yet it is the story of four very different young women - women with
very different views of womanhood, marriage and what they want to do with their lives.

    It is the story of four young women, who while living according to their
parents’ teachings and their faith, successfully live their very different lives and achieve their very different goals.

   Cast Requirements: 7 Men and 9 Women
                                   (Some roles may be "doubled.")

                               Full Length Play. Runs Approx. 2 hours

                                Suitability: Junior High through Adult

     Cast of Characters

Jo March. Age 15 at beginning of play. Tall and thin. A tom-boy.
  Imaginative. Loves to write. Has a temper that is hard to control.

Meg March. The eldest of the four sisters. Soft, sweet and pretty. Age 16
at beginning of play.

Amy March. The youngest. A blue-eyed blond with a nose that doesn’t
   please her. She carries herself as a young lady of importance, always
mindful of her manner. A temper that matches Jo’s. Age 12 at
curtain.

Beth March. Age 13 at curtain. “Little Miss Tranquility.” Bright-eyed, shy
and very timid. Never thinks of herself first.

"Marmee." The girls’ mother. Thoughtful, caring, warm, solid.
Concerned about her girls and others.

Hannah.*  The March family servant.

“Laurie” Lawrence The boy next door in the large house. He
becomes “Jo’s boy.” a month short of 16 at curtain. He is an orphan
who lives with his grandfather. Handsome and thoughtful, but
comes with a temper.

Mr. Lawrence. Laurie’s wealthy grandfather. A menacing figure with a
craggy face, gruff voice and and bushy eyebrows. But there is a twinkle
in his eyes.

Dr. Bangs.*   The town doctor

John Brooke. Laurie’s tutor. A handsome young man. An “excellent”
young man.

Mr. March. The girls‘ father and Marmee’s husband. A minister, and
chaplain to the army at the beginning. Patient and wise.

Aunt March. The girls‘ rich and opinionated aunt. Jo’s fussy employer.

Aunt Carrol.* Another of the girls’ aunts. Sister of Mr. March.
Mother of Flo.

Mrs. Kirke.*   Marmee’s friend, and Jo’s second employer Runs a
Boarding House in New York.

Dashwood.* Editor and publisher of Weekly Volcano

Professor Bhaer. An immigrant for Germany, who resides at Mrs.
Kirke's Boarding House, and who  supports himself and two orphan
nephews by giving German lessons.

   A Brief Excerpt from
"Little Women"

Jo. You know something about it, and you'd better tell at once, or I'll make
you. (Giving Amy a slight shake)

Amy. (Getting excited) Scold as much as you like, you'll never see your
silly old book again.

Jo. Why not?

Amy. I burned it up.

Jo. (Incredulously) You burned my book? I worked so hard on it. I meant
to have it finished when Father got home? (Really worried) Have you
really burned it? (Her eyes kindled and her hands clutch Amy
nervously)

Amy. (Proud of herself) Yes, I did! I told you I'd make you pay for being so
cross, and I have, so...

Jo. (Shaking Amy till her teeth chattered in her head, Jo cries in passion,
grief and anger) ... You wicked, wicked girl! I never can write it
again. I'll never forgive you as long as I live.

(Meg moves to rescue Amy. Beth moves to pacify Jo. Jo rushes to the stairs in tears)

Marmee. (Entering from upstairs, finds Amy in tears being comforted
by Meg) What’s going on here?

Meg. Amy wanted to see the play with us, and we wouldn’t take her. Jo
tried to explain to her that Laurie had only invited us. Amy got angry.
She blamed Jo, and while we were gone she burned Jo’s manuscript.

Marmee. Is that true, Amy?

Amy. She deserved it.

Marmee. No, Amy, she didn’t deserve it. Jo was very proud of her book.
She had put her whole heart into it.

Amy. Six stupid fairy tales!

Marmee. Amy, your sister has put her whole heart into that book.

Amy. It was just a book. (Jo descends to the base of the stairs)

Marmee. (Sternly and grieved) Jo has worked patiently on it, copying
everything with great care with the hope that it might be good
enough to be published. You have selfishly destroyed her manuscript.
Your bonfire has consumed the loving work of several years.

Amy. (Feeling that no one would love her till she had asks pardon for the
act which she now regretted more than any of them, turning to Jo)
Please forgive me, Jo. I'm very, very sorry.

Jo. (Still furious) I never shall forgive you.

Marmee. Jo, stay for a minute. The rest of you can get ready for bed.
(When Meg, Beth and Amy have exited , Marmee whispers gently)
My dear, don't let thesun go down upon your anger. Forgive each
other, and begin again tomorrow.

Jo. (Perceiving that Amy is eavesdropping, winking hard) It was an
abominable thing, and she doesn't deserve to be forgiven. (Jo
marches off to bed, pausing just a second to let Amy scoot to her
room)

(Lights down. Lights come back up the following day)

                                            Don’s Other Plays


Free previews of all of Don’s plays are available at his web site: http://www.osheasplays.com/

Don’s plays with other publishers can also be previewed as well as purchased at their websites:
Theatrefolk                                          https://www.theatrefolk.com/
Big Dog Plays                                      http://www.bigdogplays.com/
Brooklyn Publishers                          https://www.brookpub.com/
Norman Maine Plays                         http://www.normanmaineplays.com/
Drama Source                                     http://www.dramasource.com/
Contemporary Drama Service         https://www.contemporarydrama.com