A NOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT – THEATRICALS

Little Women follows the lives of the March sisters: the eldest, Meg; the frail, but saintly Beth; the baby, Amy; and last but certainly not least, spunky tomboy Jo. We see the sisters--Jo, in particular--as they grow, change, deal with love, and even death. Although the story takes place 140 years ago, the characters and their relationships with one another--siblings, parent/child, friends/lovers--are timeless.

Another theme that continues to resonate with increasing intensity is the role of females in society. Little Women is a true rendition of what life was like for women during The Civil War. Here were four young girls under their mother’s sole tutelage, their father having left to fight in the war. They were poor and faced great difficulties, but they had each other. The characters in Little Women simultaneously demonstrate how far women have come, and paradoxically, how little has changed.

While her sisters maintained conventional female roles, only Jo attempted to break out and become something else. She dreamed of becoming a soldier and a writer; and even cut her hair short (a near scandal during that period.) Today, Jo would not merely be accepted, she would be more the standard. The expectation nowadays is that girls behave more like boys: play with the same toys, compete in the same sports, and excel in the same educational subjects. All these things are expected to help them advance in school and their careers.

Now, consider Marmee March (played in this production by the incomparable Maureen McGovern, who originated the role in the recent Broadway premiere). Not only did Marmee single-handedly care for her daughters in very trying circumstances; she also served as the emotional glue that held the family together. In many ways, it is still that way today. Society never stops raising the bar for women, it seems. They are expected to shoulder most of the responsibilities that come with caring for children and households, have careers, volunteer at school and in the community, and perhaps even care for their own aging parents. Yet, more and more, they are being raised to act like men.

So it begs the question: what progress have we really made? No doubt, American women have much more freedom and opportunity today as compared to 140 years ago—but at what cost? Certainly, there have been days when more than one gal would have gladly traded in her superhero uniform for the simplicity of days long ago. (No wonder early American hand-crafts like knitting, quilting, and embroidering are making a comeback.)

Of course, the “fairer sex” has a great deal to celebrate now, more than any previous generation. (A quick comparison of fashions alone are enough to make you want to get up and dance!) Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the audience. We hope this show provides a brief respite from your busy--and fulfilled-- lives.

Gina Vernaci
Vice President of Theatricals
Playhouse Square Foundation