The final performance of “Little Women: The Musical,” which was staged by Grand Valley State University’s Opera Theatre, wrapped up on Sunday, Feb. 16. Despite an illness among cast members cancelling a performance, the musical received a resoundingly positive response from audience members.
The musical was based on the classic novel “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott and followed four sisters– Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March– as they came of age during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. The cast and crew did their best to bring the audience into the March sisters’ world through the script and engaging prop use.
“There is a scene where Jo and Beth are flying kites, and we actually fly kites in the show,” said Natalie Tripp, who played Jo March. “I thought this (flying kites) was a cool (choice by the) director. I think it (the choice) brings the audience into the world (of “Little Women”) a bit more.”
Tripp said that opening night was great, but it was difficult because she was fighting through the beginning of a sickness.
“I think I did well given the situation,” Tripp said. “I felt proud of the performance, (but) it was hard because I was coming down with an illness and the role is very physically demanding.”
Maddie Cooper, who played Beth March, said a large number of cast and crew members became sick, which resulted in the cancellation of their third performance on Sunday, Feb. 9. Despite this, Cooper said the crew still fought for the rest of the showtimes to be energy-packed.
“We had so much energy,” Cooper said. “We were like, ‘Okay, this is serious, we have to keep this energy up for the second show,’ especially since a couple of people were getting sick. Overall, we had a great first weekend.”
Tripp added that from an audience perspective, you wouldn’t know she was fighting off an illness.
“I posted a picture that we canceled the show because of illness, and my friend (who went to the second performance) said, ‘I hope everyone in the cast is okay,’ not knowing I was the one (who) was sick,” Tripp said.
Cooper said audience members also supported the cast and crew by laughing through each joke and voicing their feedback of feeling drawn into the musical. Tripp added that the cast heard from audience members about how they loved the show’s staging.
“You might feel like you didn’t deliver the line the way you wanted, or maybe there’s a joke that you don’t think the audience will get, but they were right there with us, which helps so much,” Cooper said. “It’s validating (of) what you are doing and (keeps) the momentum going to get through the show.”
Anna Bremmer, who played Meg March, said the cast and crew got through the performances’ challenges by encouraging and supporting each other.
“I think we all just felt comfortable with our characters, and we were able to portray what the scenes entailed,” Bremmer said. “It was a lot of fun.”
