Written by Louisa May Alcott - Audio book performed by full cast - Dramatized Fiction - 4 hours, 27 minutes
Focus on the Family (April 2004)
Remember them? Countless generations grew up with Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they became Little Women. Now Focus on the Family Radio Theatre® revisits Louisa May Alcott’s enduring best seller for a fresh look at sacrificial family love.
Marmee has her hands full. Father’s away in the Civil War and their daughters are growing up so fast. Meg is tender-hearted and romantic. Boisterous Jo, the tomboy, is always getting into adventures. Shy little Beth is the stay-at-home sister. And golden-haired Amy longs to be a famous artist. Four very different “little women” who love each other dearly.
Like all sisters, they sometimes disagree. Still, when trouble comes to the March family, they face it bravely together. The questions the sisters ask are no different than those pondered by women today. Who will love me? How can I fit in and still be myself? How can I grow as a person when my family needs me?
Join the four March girls in this timeless American classic, full of the joys and the sorrows we encounter along the way as we learn about life and love. Recorded in London, the audio drama Little Women features an award-winning cast and film-quality sound design to create a world that will inspire your imagination.
About the Performers:
Gemma Jones as Marmee The distinguished British theatre actress Gemma Jones has starred in many acclaimed plays ranging from Seasons (with the Royal Shakespeare Company) to Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with Brendan Fraser and Ned Beatty. She has also appeared in such British TV productions as The Duchess of Duke Street in which she played the title role. Her movie credits include Sense and Sensibility and") David Mamet's version of the Rattigan classic, The Winslow Boy (co-starring with Sir Nigel Hawthorne as "Grace Winslow. She played "Madam Pomfrey" in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and was also featured in Bridget Jones' Diary, playing the mother of Renee Zellwegger.
Kate Maberly as young Jo Kate starred in the much-loved movie The Secret Garden with Maggie Smith, as well as J.M. Barrie's Neverland with Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Dustin Hoffman, in which she plays "Wendy Darling." Her prestigious TV movies include Victoria & Albert (Princess Alice), Daniel Deronda, The Last of the Blonde Bombshells with Dame Judi Dench and Gulliver's travels for Hallmark.
Ryan McCluskey as Laurie Laurence Ryan is the holder of a Fox Fellowship, provided by the William & Eva Fox Foundation each year to young actors and actresses of exceptional talent and outstanding promise. He studied at the University of Oregon and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Ryan's theatre work includes The Glass Menagerie, An Inspector Calls (with the Royal Shakespeare Company), A Winter's Tale and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Radio credits include The Grapes of Wrath, The Stone Diaries, Cake and, for Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, a cameo role in At Home in Mitford.
Laurence Bovard as older Jo Harvard graduate Laurence trained at the London Academy of Dramatic Art and made her professional debut creating the role of "Maria Elena Holly" in the original cast of the West End musical, Buddy. In addition to numerous theatre, film and TV credits, Laurence is a busy voice artist working in radio drama, animations and reading many talking books such as Tuck Everlasting.
Alex Jennings as Friedrich Bhaer Alex won the Olivier Award for his performance as Peer Gynt with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His many TV credits include Smiley's People, Hard Times and the title role in Ashenden. His films include The Four Feathers with Heath Ledger and Edith Nesbit's Five Children and It with Kenneth Branagh. He won further acclaim for his starring roles in My Fair Lady, The Relapse and His Girl Friday at the Royal National Theatre.
Laurel Lefkow as Meg Laurel was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in My Lovely Shayna Maidel at London's Ambassadors Theatre. Other favorite stage roles have been "Alison" in Look Back in Anger and "Irina" in The Three Sisters. Laurel's British TV work includes A Class Act, In Suspicious Circumstances and A Perfect Family. She also works extensively in BBC radio drama and talking books.
Barbara Barnes as Beth Barbara has played many of her favorite roles in American literature on radio, ranging from "Emily" in Our Town through "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz to Anne of Green Gables. Her TV and film credits include Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, 51st State, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and her title role portraying the poet Sylvia Plath.
Finty Williams as Amy Finty has appeared in films such as The Secret Rapture and Mrs. Brown (with Judi Dench). She has worked extensively in British theatre and also stars as the voice of "Angelina Ballerina" in the animated series for children's TV.
Simon Jones as Mr. March Now based in New York, Simon was an original cast member of the cult radio and TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also played "Lord Brideshead" in the legendary British TV miniseries, Brideshead Revisited and has guest-starred in such TV and film productions as Cambridge Spies, Blackadder, Monty Python, Twelve Monkeys and Brazil. His work in the U.S. includes Miracle on 34th Street, LIBERTY! The American Revolution, The Cosby Mysteries, Murder, She Wrote and Newhart.
Janet Suzman as Aunt March Janet is a renowned theatre actress whose movies include Nicholas and Alexandra (in which she starred as "Alexandra") and A Dry White Season. TV miniseries include Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy in which she played Lady Edwina Mountbatten, The Wars of the Roses and The Singing Detective. On stage and television she has also portrayed many leading roles including "Masha" in The Three Sisters, "Hedda" in Hedda Gabler, "Sheila" in A Day in the Death of Joe Egg and "Joan of Arc" in St. Joan.
Richard Johnson as Mr. Laurence Richard's many British TV appearances include The Secret Life of Ian Fleming, The Chamomile Lawn, Anglo Saxon Attitudes and Moses the Lawgiver. U.S. guest appearances include Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Hart to Hart and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. His films include Turtle Diary (with Ben Kingsley and Glenda Jackson), Khartoum, Operation Crossbow, Never So Few and "Bulldog Drummond" in Deadlier than the Male.
ALSO STARRING:
NANCY BALDWIN as Mrs. Hummel
ALEX BELCOURT as Belle Moffat
ED BISHOP as Dr. Bangs
FIONA CAREW as Annie Moffat
SCOTT CISCON as Sergeant
DOUGLAS COCKLE as John Brooke
JULIENNE DAVIS as Sallie Gardiner
SANDRA DICKINSON as Mrs. Moffat
MARGOT LEICESTER as Hannah
ANDREW RODGERS as the Hummel Boy
LIZA ROSS as Mrs. Kirke
EBEN YOUNG as Piano Delivery Man
MATT ZIMMERMAN as Mr. Dashwood
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