Students Perform “Little Women” Live This Week!
By Isabella Smarro, Managing Editor
As Rosanne Raneri calls out a scene change, student actors rise to adjust the set. Annabella Schiavi, playing Jo March, is center stage, with Brennan Clark and Sivan Adler in the left and right wings. “Have fun, but here’s the thing… Remember that we’re grounding things in the moment” says Raneri before the scene begins.
In “Little Women” acclaimed playwright Kate Hamill asks “How do you stay true to yourself when the world wants you to become a perfect little woman?” The show opens on November 17th at 7:30pm and will be performed until November 21st with a matinee as well as a later performance.
The plot focuses on the March family, specifically Jo March and her sisters. Jo was raised to be lady-like but aspires to act beyond what’s traditionally considered feminine, like becoming a published playwright. Her friendship with a man called Laurie is explored as they face the trials that come with having a female writer taken seriously.
With millions of different plays to choose from, why “Little Women?” Annabella offers her perspective on how much truth is told within the show. “Our group is mostly women, so I think we all have a sense of shared experiences that are mirrored in Little Women. I love the book, and I think the fact the Greta Gerwig movie came out relatively recently reminded us of how timeless and poignant the story is. I love how this play emphasizes how multifaceted womanhood is; there is no right or wrong way to be a woman, and in a society that’s ruled by media ideals, this message is crucial,” said Annabella.
Regarding rehearsal procedures during COVID-19, Vincent Harrington, who plays Mr. Dashwood and voices a parrot, says, “It honestly hasn’t been that different from how it was before the pandemic started. We’re on campus now instead of meeting over Zoom which definitely improves things, but we need to wear masks during rehearsals. During the actual performances, though, we’re given the option to take our masks off if we wish.”
For many second-year students who’ve acted with HVCC exclusively on Zoom, being in person is refreshing. For myself to play Beth March, the third oldest sister, this show brings back specific emotions I haven’t had since before COVID. Theater makes me feel comfortable and brings positivity to my life. I missed having those emotions during last year, but luckily now I get to relive those times with new friends.
Brennan Clark, who plays Laurie Laurence describes the experience as “super exciting for me. I’ve spent so long doing nothing with my time, so it’s very exciting to be back, since the last thing I acted in wasn’t even put on as a show due to COVID.”
Del Williams, playing Hannah, the family’s maid, says that even though it’s kind of weird being back on campus, she’s truly grateful to finally be in person. “I’m lucky because I’m with a bunch of talented people who have made it a lot easier.” Del isn’t just an actor but also leads as Assistant Director. ” It’s terrifying but also really rewarding. Working with new and old friends broadens my horizons. It’s interesting being a cast and crew role.”
Certain scenes disregard social distancing, as characters may be required to hold hands, whisper to one another or share a kiss. While each Hudson Valley Community College student requires at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination, it’s still required to wear masks indoors. The pandemic has significantly damaged the performing arts, but HVCC’s Theatre company seems to have recovered well from the circumstances.
