Little Women
4 cast members · Tragicomedy
Little Women
Little Women · Emma Reeves - Based on the book by Louisa May Alcott
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Little Women
Published by scriptsandsketches.com
With their father fighting in the Civil War, sisters Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth navigate love, dreams, and the challenges of growing up together.
Group
Characters: JO, MEG, AMY, BETH
With their father fighting in the American Civil War, sisters Jo, Meg, Amy and Beth are at home with their mother, a very outspoken woman for her time. The story tells of how the sisters grow up, find love, and find their place in the world.
JO:
Meg…
MEG:
I should like a lovely house, full of all sorts of luxurious things - pretty clothes, handsome furniture, pleasant people - and heaps of money.
JO:
Amy…
AMY:
I want to go to Rome, and do fine pictures, and be the best artist in the whole world.
JO:
'I'm going to do something splendid - something heroic, and wonderful, that won't be forgotten after I'm gone.'
BETH:
I only wish we could all stay together.
JO:
Beth…
(To the audience, narrating.) It was the second winter of the war.
(To the audience, narrating.) It was the second winter of the war.
MEG:
Now the blue coats were worn by mature men.
BETH:
One of them was our father. We agreed -
AMY:
In principle
MEG:
That it would be wrong, to spend money for pleasure
BETH:
When our men were suffering so in the army.
AMY:
But still -
MEG:
- As Jo observed, one winter evening -
JO:
Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.
MEG:
It's so dreadful to be poor.
AMY:
I don't think it's fair for some girls to have lots of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all.
BETH:
We've got Father, and Mother, and each other, anyhow.
JO:
We haven't got Father, and we won't for a long time.
AMY:
Perhaps never.
JO:
Don't say that!
BETH:
(Peacemaking.) It was so brave of Father to volunteer as a chaplain, when he wasn't strong enough for a soldier.
JO:
Of course he did! And don't I wish I could go, too?
MEG:
No you don't, Jo.
JO:
I do, though! I'm dying to go and fight with Pa, but instead I have to stay at home and slave for poky old Aunt March. Christopher Columbus!
AMY:
Don't use slang, Jo; it's so boyish.
JO:
That's why I do it.
AMY:
I detest rude, unladylike girls.
JO:
I hate affected, niminy-piminy chits.
MEG:
Girls! Really!
JO:
Sorry Meg. I just wish I was a boy, that's all.
MEG:
Well, you're not.
BETH:
Poor Jo! It's too bad, but it can't be helped, so you must try to be contented with making your name boyish, and playing brother to us girls.
JO:
(Energetic.) That reminds me - there's still heaps to do about the play for Christmas night! We should rehearse!
BETH:
Meg, you'll have to announce us.
MEG:
I don't think I should act any more. I'm getting too old for such things.
AMY:
Nonsense! You know you love it, so just get on with it.
MEG:
(Announces dramatically.) The Witch's Curse, a Tragedy by Miss Josephine March.
JO:
Overture - that's you Beth -
BETH:
Do I have to?
JO:
You're the best musician we've got.
BETH:
But I hate to play in front of people - it frightens me. And that jangling old piano hurts my ears - it never keeps in tune.
JO:
(Sighs.) Christopher Co - (AMY squeals in objection.) - lum - bus. Very well, we'll skip the overture. Amy, let's do the fainting scene, you're as stiff as a poker in that.
AMY:
I can't help it. I never saw anyone faint.
JO:
Just throw yourself into it. So, Hugo comes over to you like this - (As ‘Hugo.) Hahahaha! Now I have you, my proud beauty. Your lover cannot help you now.
MEG:
(Prompting.) Roderigo…
AMY:
Roderigo. Roderigo. (Forgetting the line.) Oh, don't tell me…
JO:
(Exasperated.) Save me.
AMY:
Roderigo. Save me. Save me. Ow.
JO:
You're supposed to be in mortal peril! Do it like this! (She staggers across the room, crying frantically in a melodramatic, high "heroine' voice.) Roderigo! Save me! Save me! Aagh!
MEG:
Aunt March!
