By Jennifer Ersalesi
Rutherford High School will present "Little Women" on Friday, November 17th, and Saturday, November 18th at 7:30 pm in the RHS Auditorium. "Little Women" is the theatrical adaptation of the classic book by Louisa May Alcott. It is a story about the three March sisters growing up during the American Civil War while their father is off at war. Their stories are weaved together through laughter, tears, love, and loss. This is Rutherford interviewed the Director of the Show, Patricia Blanchard, who is also the vocal music teacher at RHS.
TIR: Why did you choose “Little Women” as this year’s Fall Play at RHS?
Patricia Blanchard: I chose Little Women this year because I wanted to perform a drama. I'm most excited to see the students show off their serious acting skills. For the past few years, we've done comedies, so it's nice to see them perform a drama.
TIR: What can audiences expect to see?
PB: The audience can expect to see a classic story brought to life by our talented performers. The students have worked hard these past few months developing their characters and working to portray the story accurately.
TIR: What makes this classic story appealing to various age groups?
PB: The story of Little Women is a timeless story about family bonds and growing up, which everyone can relate to.
TIR: What can you tell us about the actors in the show?
PB: I'm really proud of their hard work, dedication, and willingness to step out of their comfort zone. It's not easy to be vulnerable on stage, but the actors are always willing to take advice and try new methods to develop their characters. Little Women has some old-fashioned language, being that it was written in the 1800s. The students have done a great job of conveying the meaning of the lines and making it so that the audience can follow and understand the story. They also have to portray characters that are dealing with situations that they may not have had to deal with in their own lives (a parent away at war, a child dying, a sister dying, falling in love). The students have learned how to connect with their characters and portray the correct emotions, which is not always easy.
TIR: How has the stage crew and production team been preparing for the show?
PB: I'm also immensely proud of our stage crew. We have students in charge of the lights, sound, props, and backstage area. They needed to make decisions, lead their fellow students, and organize their responsibilities to ensure that the show runs smoothly.
I hope the audience enjoys our production as much as we've enjoyed preparing it.
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