A thoughtful, character-driven production that’s not flawless, but full of charm and worth seeing
Last night, I caught Anne-Marie Casey’s adaptation of Little Women at the Oxford Playhouse (running Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 May), and overall, it was a really enjoyable night at the theatre. The script keeps the heart of Louisa May Alcott’s classic alive, while trimming and adapting the plot into a production that feels both familiar and fresh.
The dynamic among the March sisters was authentic, believable, and full of warmth. You really felt their sibling bond, from the small gestures to the bigger emotional moments. The set design helped sell this too: it had a cozy, homey vibe, with simple but clever elements like movable bookcases and curtain dividers that shifted the scenes without breaking the flow. Visually, it felt like you were sitting right in the March family’s living room, which made the emotional beats hit harder.
That said, there were a few bumps. The small cast and the show’s runtime meant that energy dipped at times. Some scenes felt a little sluggish, and there were moments where the pacing could have used a jolt. An extra cast member wouldn’t have gone amiss, especially with characters like Mr. March being completely absent. His return could’ve offered an emotional anchor near the end and given the production one more layer of resolution. Jack Ashton handled multiple roles (John Brooke, Professor Bhaer) well, but it still left the show feeling slightly underpopulated. A few more bodies on stage might’ve added more dynamic movement and kept things snappier.
Performance-wise, the standout for me was Belinda Lang as Aunt March. She had razor-sharp comedic timing and owned every scene she was in, easily a crowd favourite. Ellie Pawsey, stepping in as Marmee, was also brilliant. She brought a quiet strength and warmth to the role that really grounded the family and gave emotional weight to the more reflective scenes.
As someone new to Little Women, I found it accessible and easy to follow, even if some of the accents were a bit jarring or hard to catch in places. The emotional high point for me was the confrontation between Jo and Amy early on. It started slowly but built into something raw and powerful that clearly hit the audience hard.
Overall, this is a solid, heartfelt production with plenty of charm. Not flawless, but definitely worth seeing, especially if you’re after something thoughtful, character-driven, and beautifully staged.