Relevant classic

MOSES LAKE — The classic tale of four sisters growing to adulthood comes to the Moses Lake High School stage this week. The MLHS production of “Little Women” opens Friday at the theater, 803 E. Sharon Ave.

“Little Women” is the story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, growing up in a small Massachusetts town during the Civil War. The family has its challenges - their father is a military chaplain, off on the front lines, and even when he’s home there’s not enough money.

Jo (Madeline O’Niel in the MLHS production) and Meg (Evan Arledge) must work to help support the family. Beth (Calissa Dalton) is very shy, and Amy (Paisley Ashton) is a little rebellious.

The musical is based on the 1868 book by Louisa May Alcott, which has been in print since it was published. Movie productions based on the story date back to 1917. It’s definitely considered a classic, and classics - well, they can be boring. Drama advisor and play director Sharon Winningham said the whole classic thing made her a little wary when it came time to pick a show.

“I pay attention to what other high schools in the state are doing - that’s how I get ideas. ‘Little Women’ had come up in past years, so it was kind of on my list but I wasn’t interested,” Winningham said.

What changed her mind was an invitation from her friend Emily Duvall to watch a production.

“I absolutely fell in love with it. I was crying, I was laughing, and I’m thinking, ‘We can do this.’”

O’Neil, an MLHS senior, said she has never read the book but has seen a couple of the movie versions. She said she thinks “Little Women” is still relevant in the 21st Century.

“I think it’s just a very modern tale,” she said. “I kind of relate to Jo, because I’m graduating, and in the story, it’s about her growing up and discovering change. She doesn’t want to leave her sisters or leave her family, she just wants to write. I think it’s just a very good story about accepting change and growing up.”

Her castmate shared a similar sentiment.

“It really describes the love of family and how that never fails,” Dalton said.

The musical premiered on Broadway in 2005. Winningham said the play also is a good one for the MLHS drama program because the cast is mostly female.

“Always I look at shows with not very many boy parts. I don’t have a lot of boys, ever. It’s not heavy boy singing,” she said.

The story of “Little Women” revolves around Jo March, Winningham said, and O’Niel is the right fit for that role.

“It’s kind of a star vehicle for Jo, (and) our Jo just really came ready to go,” Winningham said. “She had her lines memorized, she had the songs memorized, before the first rehearsal. And she kind of set the bar, and because it’s a star vehicle, everybody else kind of got swept up in her wake.”

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

Need tix?

April 14, 15, 17 and 18

7 p.m. each day

2 p.m. matinee on April 15

Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/MAVSLITTLE

$13-$15