Creator: Figs in Wigs
‘When will it be over?’ the March sisters ask repeatedly. Well quite. This weird confection by Figs in Wigs, largely pantomime plus deliberately inept dance routines and stage business, runs to two hours. The opening has the five bewigged performers dressed as goddesses perched on living-statue posts. Quite a droll concept. But any subsequent humour is spread thinly over a protracted exposition about the show we’re about to see. As part of the Wow (Women of the World) festival, Little Wimmin presents itself as a feminist revamp of Alcott’s most loved story. There is talk early on of the patriarchy, of capitalism and of climate change. After the first thirty minutes, there’s an interval.
Then we move to an orange set with the March sisters also in orange. Is there some hidden pun here? Figs in Wigs are big on puns. Perhaps oranges are not the only fruit: the final sequence (signalled from the start) involves dozens of limes being juiced to make a vat of Marguerita. Figs in Wigs certainly like to squeeze ideas till the pips squeak. There is only so much amusement you can get out of showing the sisters all bursting into noisy tears, for example, but that doesn’t stop Figs in Wigs going for broke. There’s no comic escalation, just more of the same thing. The audience are reduced to silence, but nonetheless burst into enthusiastic applause at the end. The same happens over an interminable robotic dance, in which the cast wear black leotards and orange wigs. They’ve more or less parted company with Little Women by this stage except for the crinoline cages they are wearing. Fragments of the original story are chucked in but there is absolutely no context given to key moments, such as Jo cutting off her hair and we never meet Marmee or Laurie or anyone else that gave the original story richness.
As to the show’s feminist credentials – worryingly this seems to be about sisters doin’ it for themselves and drinking bucket loads of alcohol. Another protracted scene involves a morning-after binge with the girls variously swaying and vomiting. Yes, that’s how funny it is. And as to any political engagement – forget it.
Pantomimes – and the show operates at this level – have tight plots. But the plot of Little Wimmin – such as it is – disintegrates entirely. There is a crooning Christmas tree and someone wears a horse’s head. Then more execrable dancing. It becomes totally incoherent. It’s a spectacularly silly show, but in fairness, many of those in the audience loved it.
Reviewed on 13 March 2022 and continues to tour
The Reviews Hub Score
When will it be over?
