By: Ashley Giandomenico
Posted In: News
Photo credit: Ashley Giandomenico
Theater students practicing their lines during a three hour rehearsal for Little Women.
Photo credit: Ashley Giandomenico
Patricia Hawkridge, director of Little Women, guiding students through the proper positions on stage in one scene.
The performance of a student’s interpretation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story, “Little Women” is still in production, and the theatre troupe is certain they are creating a masterpiece.
The play, which will be presented April 5, began production in early February. “They’re doing great,” said Patricia Hawkridge, director of the production and chair of the theater department. “They understand the piece, are committed and bring a youthful enthusiasm to the play.” According to Hawkridge, “Little Women” offers more opportunities for her students to grow as actors than previous performances. Not only is performing a text challenging, but the script the cast is using was written by sophomore Holly Nelson from the classic tale by Louisa May Alcott. Last spring Hawkridge proposed the idea of performing Alcott’s novel, a heartwarming, “coming of age” drama that traces the lives of four sisters who grow up with their mother as their father is away fighting the Civil War. Inevitable quarrels and tragedies arise, but the family’s strong bond holds them together as they face and try to conquer such obstacles. “Surprisingly, they all loved the idea of Little Women,” Hawkridge said. “But we all decided that the adaptation I found was inferior. Holly came to me and said she had always loved the story and wanted to try her own adaptation.” Hawkridge eagerly accepted the offer, and Nelson went to work last summer. Presently, the theater cast is a few weeks into perfecting the way to execute Nelson’s version into a performance. Hawkridge said that it usually takes five months to prepare a show. “If you are going to create a performance out of a text, you really need a skeleton prior to practicing so you’re not creatively rushed,” Hawkridge said. One cast member, Julie Rackauskas, who plays Aunt March in the play, says that the first few rehearsals are the most difficult. This is called the blocking stage. “We are still in the discovery process, trying to figure things out,” Rackauskas said. However, according to Rackauskas the hard work always pays off. “Sometimes it’s difficult in the beginning because it will take hours to act out a couple of lines, but it’s necessary to take the time,” Rackauskas said. “And it is very rewarding in the end.” Danielle McNamara agrees with her cast mate. McNamara is senior at Salve and has been involved in the theater productions since she was a freshman. McNamara, who plays Meg in “Little Women,” feels that the performance is going to be wonderful. “Little Women is especially great because we have the opportunity to act out our own interpretation,” McNamara said. Little Women will open April 5 and will run until April 9 in the Megley Theatre. Admission is $10 for general, $8 for faculty, staff and seniors and $5 for students. For tickets, call the Mercy Hall box office at 341-2250.
