`LIFE GOES ON'
Actress thrilled to finally hit the stage in lead role in Little Women
It took a lot longer than expected, but spring has finally arrived for Josephine March.
After more than a two-year wait, the main character in Little Women is getting a fresh start next week when the latest version of the Broadway show opens a fourday run on Thursday night at the University of Regina's Riddell Centre.
Presented by Regina Lyric Musical Theatre (RLMT), the play was originally slated for March of 2020 — an unfortunate bit of scheduling since it landed right at the start of the COVID -19 pandemic.
“I auditioned for the show in January-february 2020,” recalled actress Deanna Patterson, who was “pretty pumped” when she landed the lead role and equally “crushed” a few weeks later when the show had to be postponed.
“We were waiting for direction from either the government or the venue or whoever to tell us whether or not we should be moving forward. Eventually the decision was made by the Lyric board that we were just going to cancel the production and hopefully put it on in spring 2021.”
That didn't happen, either. As the pandemic lingered, Patterson put her disappointment in perspective by remembering that there were much bigger issues in the world at the time.
“Life goes on,” said the 29-yearold French immersion teacher. “But I am eager in the sense that … I was really excited to lead a show. I'm glad that this opportunity is finally coming to fruition because I was really disappointed the first time.”
Despite that initial cancellation, the work done in 2020 didn't go completely to waste because it provided the cast and crew with a head start the second time around. Although the current 17-person cast includes several new faces, there are also a handful of familiar ones, including Patterson, who returned to work under the guidance of Nora Berg (director), Craig Salkeld (music director) and Claire Castle (choreographer).
“Everybody who wanted to come back from the original production was able to secure their original role,” Patterson said. “Then they re-auditioned for the roles of those who were no longer able to participate.”
Little Women is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Louisa May Alcott, originally published in 1868.
It's about the journey of four young sisters living in Massachusetts while their father is away during the U.S. Civil War. That's also when the second-eldest daughter — a tomboy called `Jo' for short — discovers what would become her “sole purpose in life.”
“She wants to be an author,” said Patterson.
“She works really hard on it but she doesn't really fit the mould. She's not much of a sophisticated woman. There's a lot of societal pressure for her to fit the mould of what a woman should be (at that time) — not necessarily career-minded but more domestic-minded. She resists the idea of marriage. She resists the idea of settling down and giving up on her dreams.”
Patterson has waited more than 25 months to resume this coveted role.
Although she has performed in musicals with other local theatre groups, this is Patterson's first show with RLMT since her 2014 debut in Fiddler on the Roof.
Little Women also represents her first shot at a lead role.
“I like everything about (the show),” she said.
“I like that it offers roles for women. I like the music; it's catchy and it's fun to sing. And I have a really good group of castmates to work with who are committed and passionate and push me as a performer.”
Patterson hopes to rise to the occasion in her portrayal of Jo March — a story with multiple layers that evokes a complicated mix of laughter and tears.
She described it as “more of a drama than a comedy.”
“The show is really emotional,” Patterson said. “There's a lot of humour in it but there are a lot of really upsetting moments. It is a show for everyone in a way because it's a timeless story. How many movie adaptations are there of Little Women? It's appealing to a mass, broad audience.
“Come to it with an open mind and an open heart.”
Tickets are available via reginalyric.com.
I'm glad that this opportunity is finally coming to fruition because I was really disappointed the first time.