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The production “Women” debuted last Friday at The Art Scene @ CNY Arts Center in Fulton.
This version of the play, written by Chiara Atik, condenses the timeless classic by Louisa May Alcott into a tightened two-act play with a runtime of just over an hour. The plot follows the March sisters as they mature from girls to women in Civil War-era Massachusetts.
This updated version of Little Women drew lots of laughs from an appreciative audience while putting a modern spin on the classic tale.
The tone is set from the very beginning when Father writes home and reminds his daughters to be dutiful, prayerful “little women.” Jo March, played by Emma Francisco, flops on the couch and scoffs. “What a load of shit.”
But the humdrum lives of Meg, Jo, Amy, and Beth take several turns when an eligible man named Larry moves in next door, and then their mother must leave for Washington DC to visit their wounded father.
From there, the play continued to elicit laughs and hoots from the crowd… as well as the occasional “aww” for the poor men trying to win Jo’s hand in marriage.
The production focuses on Jo’s journey to becoming not just a published writer, but a mature woman. From her beginnings as a selfish child to the ending which sees her considering the needs of her sisters and acting to support her family, Francisco expertly, yet subtly, portrays Jo’s character development.
The intimate setting of the theater also helped draw the audience into the action—the bedroom setting, in particular, felt incredibly cozy in the center’s newly renovated and remodeled theater.
The play is directed by first-time director Ashley McKinstry, who was assisted in her debut by experts at the CNY Community Arts Center. The show was sponsored by a number of local woman-owned businesses, including Ontario Cleaners, 114 Reserve, Six Scoops, and your very own iHeart Oswego.
Readers interested in checking out this fun, witty production can catch the show again at the CNY Arts Center this weekend. Performance dates are June 27 and 28 at 7pm, and June 29th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at https://cnyartscenter.com/.
