A Universal Story. A Cultural Moment. Jo – The Little Women Musical in Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime
star-studded event that will bring Louisa May Alcott’s classic story Little Women to life in a bold new
musical adaptation with a sweeping, timeless score that will leave you spellbound.
Review by Neill Kovacic-Clarke
A LONG MARCH THROUGH A LUSH LANDSCAPE
In the opulence of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, a venue that practically breathes musical theatre history, the world premiere concert of JO – THE LITTLE WOMEN MUSICAL felt like a curious step back in time. While the evening was draped in ambition and bolstered by an expensive sounding 26-piece orchestra, this new adaption of Louisa May Alcott‘s classic struggled to find its footing in the modern West End landscape.
The primary hurdle is the sheer scale of the piece. With a run time of over 3 hours for a “concert”, the show is far too long. Dan Redfeld‘s score, while lush, suffers from songs that feel relentlessly drawn out, with Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej‘s lyrics often circling the same emotional beat long after the point has been made. There is a persistent identity crisis at play here. The show feels decidedly old-fashioned, reminiscent of the earnest, sweeping sung-through pieces of the last century, yet it lacks a clear sense of where it fits in 2026.
Then there is the character of Jo March herself, as portrayed by the undeniably talented Christine Allado who displayed amazing powerhouse vocals. The writing seemed to lean heavily into a “Disney Princess” trope – all wide-eyed wonder and polished artifice – which sits at odds with the rebellious, scrappy writer we know from the source material. I wasn’t entirely sure if the audience was meant to truly like her or simply admire her vocal stamina.
Although played with utter conviction by Tracie Bennett, Aunt March felt out of place here, I understand the traits of the character, but it was almost as if she had been adapted here for a different audience to the rest of the piece, which for the most part is very classical, but Aunt March feels more Vaudeville.
That said, the vocal performances were undeniably powerful. Kerry Ellis, as Marmee, remains the gold standard for West End leading ladies, grounding the evening with her trademark emotional depth. However, the night truly belonged to the younger generation. Sophie Pollono as Amy and Tobias Turley as Laurie were the absolute standouts, injecting a much-needed spark of genuine chemistry and vitality into the proceedings. Their rendition of “My Captive Heart” was the undisputed highlight of the night – a rare moment where the melody and lyrics aligned perfectly to create a haunting, memorable highlight.
While the production does struggle at times with pacing, the death of Beth is handled with sublime beauty, reducing the entire auditorium to a collective mess. The casting here is incredible and brought new faces to the West End stage who I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the future.
Ultimately, JO – THE LITTLE WOMEN MUSICAL is a handsomely mounted evening that feels like a period piece in more ways than one. It is a vocal masterclass trapped within a bloated structure that desperately needs a more cynical dramaturgical eye before it can truly march forward.
This is obviously a passion project, and it’s undeniable that there is a lot of good here, but it needs editing and refining before it can truly shine.
Photo credit: Roger Alacorn
Kerry Ellis will play Marmee.
GRAMMY Award® nominee Christine Allado (Hamilton) as Jo March.
Double Olivier Award® winner Tracie Bennett (Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow) as Aunt March.
Eleanor Grant (Avatar LIVE) as Beth March.
Chris Mann (Phantom in 25 The Anniversary Tour of The Phantom of the Opera) as Professor Bhaer.
West End star Kelly Mathieson (The Phantom of the Opera) as Meg March.
Miyuki Miyagi (Beau the Musical) as Sallie Gardiner.
Julian Ovenden (from TVs Bridgerton and The Crown) as Father.
TV star Sophie Pollono (the Showtime series, I Love That For You) as Amy March.
Yazdan Qafouri (The Kite Runner) as Fred Vaughn.
Tobias Turley (Mamma Mia!) as Theodore ‘Laurie’ Laurence.
Liam Tamne (Ramses in Prince of Egypt, Raoul in Phantom Of The Opera) as John Brooke.
Barry James (West End roles include Ladislav Sipos in She Loves Me – Olivier nominated; Beadle
Bamford in Sweeney Todd – Olivier nominated) as Grandfather/Mr. Laurence.
Ensemble/chorus performers will be provided by Vocals Unlimited with Tom Pearce serving as
Choirmaster.
Orchestral management is by Isobel Griffiths Ltd.
General Managers are New Road Theatricals.