"Christopher Columbus!" exclaims heroine Jo March in Little Women: The Musical, and every time it sparked a smile from my 9-year-old daughter.
The teen thespians at Kirkland's Studio East performing arts school do a great job overall with Louisa May Alcott's classic tale, though at times their voices got a bit lost under the music. Running two-and-a-half hours with one 15-minute intermission, Little Women is recommended for children ages 8 and up, although we did see several younger kids in attendance. Probably the show's most disturbing part is Beth's death from scarlet fever. There is no death scene per se, but her death is foreshadowed in the musical number "Some Things are Meant to Be" in the second act, and we see the March family in mourning and discussing Beth's death. There is also one scene with a masked troll – part of Jo's fervent storytelling – that might scare younger children.
My daughter was more troubled by the few chaste kisses in the play than anything else. ("It's just disgusting, mom.") Kisses aside, the play sparked some good post-play conversation with my 9-year-old about women's rights, independence and being true to one's self.
Studio East's Mainstage Theater is intimate, which means there isn't a bad seat in the house. Tickets are open seating and boosters are available.
Candy, chips, coffee and bottled water are on offer at intermission for $1. Parking is plentiful around the theater building. If you've never been to Studio East before, know that it doesn't particularly look like a theater from the outside. It's part of a low-slung white complex, the first building beyond the retaining wall.
IF YOU GO
Where: Studio East Mainstage, 11730 118th Ave. N.E., Kirkland.
When: Friday, Feb.3 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m.
Admission: Adults $14, seniors and youth (ages 21 and younger) $12.
Contact: 425-820-1800; www.studio-east.org.
Lynn Schnaiberg is a Seattle-based writer and mom.
