Don’t miss “Little Women” – it’s great!

Isabel Gabriel (left) and Sophie Marinkovich meetup with a friend after Thursday's rousing performance of "Little Women."

There are only 3 nights left for the Friday Harbor High Drama Group’s production of Little Women, and I hope that you get the chance to catch this one. Put on your calendar now–you don’t want to miss it!

Julie Hagn did an outstanding job as Marmee, and has fans crawling out of the woodwork, and the hoop skirt....(that's Elinor...)

This year’s director is FHHS alumna Bristol Whalen, who graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2010 after learning her acting chops here in high school with her mentor Fred Yockers. Fred was at last night’s show and he agreed with me that this talented cast made what could be difficult drama come alive with a vibrant and authentic characterization of the main roles.

The show has its lighter moments, mixed with the shadows of death and the threat of death. As the show opens in the middle of the Civil War, the four “little women” are bonded with Marmee, their mom (Julie Hagn) as they deal with news of their father from the battlefield.

The rest of the show features the challenges they face with life, love, and hope, all with the certainty of their family’s love. Independent and ferociously intelligent Jo (Fiona Small) makes her family proud with her writing, and they rally with her when things get tough. Fragile Beth (Sarah Clark) is the  family’s deep concern, and her difficulties serve as a contrast to the successes and breakthroughs of her sisters.

Fiery Jo came alive with Fiona Small in Thursday night's production...she was congratulated by mom Shannon after the show.

Amy (Libby Anderson) is full of energy and spirit, but it’s not surprising that she looks up to her even-tempered and levelheaded older sister Meg (Isabel Gabriel) as she moves out into the world. The rest of the cast offers the counterpoint of difficult relatives, guys who are interested in the girls, and family friends. Good ensemble work!

The play spans five years, which gives the characters time to grow as people, and presents the young actors on stage with the challenge of showing their own understanding of each. They rise to the occasion well, which the opening night audience responded to with tears and laughter as everybody in the show grew up on stage. I was struck by the maturity of the students in the main roles, as they filled the theater with the energy of people who lived 160 years ago.

Bristol has come a long way since she played Don Quixote on the same stage seven years ago. She has successfully pulled a diverse group of kids together and made a team of them, and they really look like they enjoy working together. In her program notes, Bristol says, “You’ll not find a group of students more invested in life than this. You’ll be hard-pressed to not believe the love they feel onstage is real, abounding, and moving. These students are family, and taught me more about that might of love and hope than I could ever explain.”

Do yourself a favor and come see this excellent high school production. I’m glad I did.

Director Brostol Whalen pulled a spirited group together as a tight cast, with good results. She was congratulated by former FHHS drama teacher & director Fred Yockers after the show.

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