Little Women

Louisa May Alcott's classic story of the four March girls as they grow into womanhood with all the joys and sorrows of life is given special treatment in this radio theater adaptation. The production is thoroughly professional in all aspects. The members of the splendid cast are all energetic and lively in their portrayals. The sound effects, such as an orchestra playing in the background during a ball, enhance the dialogue. Music used to enhance the dramatic effect of a scene is just as well done. Radio theater productions can be such a joy for the listener when done right, and this production is a wonderful treat. M.T.F. 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March, familiar to so many of us, bring their sweetness and moral lessons to audio. The four girls and their mother struggle with war-induced poverty and self-imposed virtue, overridden by a sense of love and family. C.M. Herbert reads the story with the gentle affection and conviction one imagines in Jo March as she reads to her elderly aunt. Her characterizations receive a light touch, distinguishing each sister from the others without actually performing. Herbert allows her amusement and sadness to show at appropriate moments but maintains an overall detachment from the text that suits its soft formality to perfection. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Lorelei King brings back all our childhood memories of LITTLE WOMEN. Her voice lends a mirthful quality to the overall reading while individual characters each have their own distinctive characterizations. Marmee, Laurie and old, kind-hearted Mr. Lawrence all return to us in this warm-hearted, evocative reading. For fans of Miss Alcott, the novel makes for a rich feast. P.E.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Timeless classics can sometimes be a bit stale and leave you struggling to apply them to the present. Conversely, Alcott's themes of love, kindness and faith endure through the centuries. The March family, with its four spirited daughters, succeeds in any circumstances. In the St. Charles Players' dramatization, the parents' parts are well cast; but the children's parts are read too fast, and the laughter sounds forced. The vocabulary level is high, and the dialogue isn't realistic or natural for young listeners. Solo narration would better suit this ageless prose. Lovely hymns cue the tape sides. A.G.H. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Of course, Little Women hasn't had to prove itself a masterpiece for one hundred years. However, with the recent movie remake there's new interest. Fortunately, Barbara Caruso's rendering is wonderful. She skillfully combines the voices of a fairly large cast. Just as splendidly, she presents the text in an old-fashioned style, tone and pronunciation befitting the setting of the story. The four sisters, though each unique, must be a challenge even for several voices, but Caruso's solo voice always enthralls. The performance is worthwhile no matter what previous experience with Little Women the listener has. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

This dramatization is chock full of interesting sound effects. Hear the hymns as the sisters sing around Beth's piano, the crackle of Jo's manuscript as Amy sends it up in flames, the crack of the ice as Amy falls through. Many listeners will also enjoy the production's complete cast of voices for these familiar characters. To some ears, though, the drama may seem a bit overdone. The laughter's a little forced, the girls seem to gasp and exclaim a lot, and Jo's voice requires an adjustment--it's deep and boyish all right, but she sounds curiously old for the part. Still, newcomers and fans alike will adjust to these relatively minor details and enjoy a classic brought enthusiastically to life. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Perfectly inhabiting spoiled Amy, sensible Meg, noble Beth, and forthright Jo, narrator Kate Reading interprets Louisa May Alcott's classic novel with a blend of seriousness and humor. The story of four Massachusetts sisters and their beloved mother awaiting their father's return from the Civil War, Alcott's book about the real and imagined dramas of childhood has been popular since its publication in 1868. The style is more formal and the sentences longer than in many modern children's books, but Reading offers a clear and accessible narration that makes listening easy. And the voices chosen for the major male and female characters help us empathize with everyone, even silly Amy when she offers to cut off her golden curls. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Narrator Anne Undeland captivates listeners with her exquisite narration of Part One of this classic. (The novel was originally published in two parts.) Listeners are effortlessly transported into the lives of the March family in Civil War-era New England. Undeland creates distinct and vibrant portraits of these beloved characters--Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Marmee, and Laurie--and superbly captures the sisters' great enjoyment of games, plays, crafts, and music, as well as Jo's start as an author. Themes of women's roles, family, and sacrifice for others remain relevant for contemporary listeners. Undeland adeptly conveys French words, as well as the occasional accent, including Irish and German. An afterword presents a stimulating conversation between producer Alison Larkin and Undeland. M.J. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

An extensive cast delivers this delightful adaptation in a theatrical style, giving listeners the sensation of being at a play. The scenes are enhanced by Laura Dern's solid background narration. The performances of the talented actors are somewhat marred: The four sisters' voices are too mature in the first half of the story when the girls are young, and throughout their voices are indistinguishable in scenes with multiple sisters. Lauren Fortgang is impressive as Jo, feisty and verbose, and Suzanne Toren's mature voice portrays Marmee with maternal warmth. Stephen Bel Davies, though suitably mischievous as Laurie, also sounds too old in the first half of the production. Overall this audio play is entertaining, though not an exact reproduction of the classic story. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Laurel Lefkow narrates this beloved classic featuring the March sisters as they grow from children to young women. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy remain home with their mother as their father serves during the Civil War. They grow and change from the bumps and bruises of childhood and young adulthood, making their way despite deaths, burned first drafts, and broken hearts. Lefkow's loving narration of this classic comes through with every line, and with an audiobook as long as this one, that is truly a gift. Each character receives a memorable portrayal, and Lefkow's emotional performance keeps this classic a wonderful experience for those who have previously loved it and those who are experiencing it for the first time. V.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine