LITTLE WOMEN

Park Theatre until December 19. Tickets: 020 7870 6876

Louisa May Alcott’s novel about the four March sisters struggling through their father’s absence in the US Civil War is an evergreen classic. Its themes of growing up, taking responsibility and doggedly pursuing dreams in the face of rejection are as relevant today as they were in 1886.

Receiving its London premiere, this 2005 musical by Allan Knee (book), Jason Howland (music) and Mindi Dickstein (lyrics) plays it safe by including songs and lyrics marinated in nostalgia.

If the result errs on the side of comfortable, unthreatening sentiment, it is in keeping with the warm-hearted nature of the book.

Bronagh Lagan’s simply staged production keeps the attention on the actors: aspiring writer and proto-feminist Jo (Lydia White, all adolescent swagger); serene Meg (Hana Ichijo, waftily elegant); raucous and resentful Amy (Mary Moore); and the kind and palely loitering Beth (Anastasia Martin). They all bring light and shade to their roles and are ably supported by Brian Protheroe’s Mr Laurence and Savannah Stevenson’s Marmee.

The two-tiered set allows Jo to ascend to her book-cluttered attic bedroom next to the five musicians who conjure real volume from strings and keyboard.

Slow to start, with some of the cast hard to hear in spite of radio microphones, it picks up as it goes on and I warmed to all of them, especially Martin’s Beth whose piano duets with Mr Laurence are genuinely moving. I wasn’t the only one wringing out my face covering by the end.