Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Growing girls
Abrief channel surf quickly reveals that women on television are still all too often depicted as jealous, fighting frenemies. Often generic and one-dimensional, these portrayals detrimentally serve to convince the world — and more importantly, young women — that to be feminine is to lack rationality and depth.
Fortunately for anyone looking for a more uplifting depiction of young womanhood, PBS has teamed up with the BBC to bring to life a new miniseries adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel “Little Women.” How fascinating it is to consider that a series based on a 150-year-old novel could deliver a more honest and complex representation of women’s relationships than we see in so much modern-day fare. The latest “Masterpiece Classic” offering, “Little Women” premieres Sunday, May 13, on PBS.
“Little Women” stays loyal to Alcott’s work, while interjecting ample doses of humor and empowerment. Set amidst the American Civil War, the story provides a glimpse into the lives of the four March sisters as they grow from girls to young women under the watchful, loving care of their mother. The family, once well-to-do, now lives in poverty. Relocated to a new portion of a Massachusetts community, these little women find themselves not just penniless but also fatherless, as the patriarch has been called off to war. Left to fend for themselves, the March women are eager to prove that they’re more than capable of doing so.
Each sister is undeniably a March, yet entirely unique. Meg March (Willa Fitzgerald, “Scream: The TV Series”) is the eldest of the four and quite naturally adapts to a matriarchal type of role, quite satisfied with the prospect of a domestic life. Second eldest, Jo (Maya Hawke, “Ladyworld,” 2018), is full of bold ambition, often labeled a tomboy due to her interests and hopes to be a published writer one day. Beth (Annes Elwy, “Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams”), the third daughter, is quite shy and has a penchant for music. The youngest March, Amy (Kathryn Newton, “Lady Bird,” 2017), is the most artistic, though easily swayed into a state of vanity.
Initially, these four girls may seem fairly set in their ways, somewhat stereotypical and quite contrary to one another. As the girls develop, however, it becomes clear that there are multiple dimensions to all of their personalities, and assumed predictability is quickly discarded.
The casting of “Little Women’s” leading ladies in this latest adaptation blends fresh, new faces with a healthy dose of well-established talent. If newcomer Hawke seems familiar, it may be in large part due to the success of her parents. The actress is the daughter of Uma Thurman (“Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” 2003) and Ethan Hawke (“Training Day,” 2001), two beloved actors whose passion for the craft seems to be hereditary.
Hawke has a lot of hopes for this interpretation of Jo, which she expressed during a news release interview for “Masterpiece.” She longs for audiences
to notice Jo’s imperfections and notes that she did her best to express “the parts of [Jo] that she would feel insecure about” and to “illuminate her less perfect qualities,” trying to stray from the perfectionist persona for which the character is typically known.
The two elder March ladies of the miniseries are portrayed by theatrical and cinematic favorites. Matriach Marmee is played by the acclaimed Emily Watson (“The Book Thief,” 2013), who began her career heavily invested in feature film roles, but who has been racking up more and more TV series parts since 2011. Surpassing all of these talented ladies, however, is the legendary Angela Lansbury (“Murder She Wrote”), who steps into the fiercely critical shoes of Aunt March.
Since 1868, when “Little Women” was published, the story has endured countless adaptions in various formats. Be it film, television, musicals, operas, stage plays, web videos or audio dramas, it’s clear that the authenticity felt in this novel translates well to all mediums. The story was first adapted for the silver screen in silent format in 1917, with the most recent big-screen adaptation currently in production. When it comes to television, BBC has developed four miniseries of “Little Women,” the first airing in the 1950s as a live production. Anyone with siblings, but especially those of us who are sisters and have sisters, find deep familiarity with the relationships and conflicts depicted, so it’s no surprise that Alcott’s work continues to remain relevant and reproduced.
Driven by authenticity and truth to the period within which the tale is set, “Little Women” promises to be a wellloved representation of the classic novel. The cast, crew and director have painstakingly worked to recreate Alcott’s world, placing emphasis on natural beauty and individuality over spectacle. In a promotional interview for the miniseries, director Vanessa Caswill expressed how important it was to “[tell] a truthful story” — one that would “empower the women in it by not making them dollies, by making them just pure and beautiful.”
With women continuing to push for their unique voices and stories to be heard, perhaps there is no better time than now for a retelling of Alcott’s beloved novel. Embrace feminine strength and growth when “Little Women” premieres Sunday, May 13, on PBS.