Guests gathered in the Boston Public Library’s historic Abbey Room on November 16, 2019. Though the cold November air howled out in Copley Square, guests warmed up with tea and sweet and savory refreshments at the public, free tea party that was held in honor of the highly-anticipated live-action version of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless book, Little Women, which releases this coming Christmas Day.
The novel tells the story of the four sisters in the March family as the come of age in 19th century Massachusetts. Fans hold dear to their hearts the story of Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy—who respectively are literary versions of Alcott herself and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth, and May, and this new version brings the well-loved tale to new generations. Little Women has been translated into over 50 languages and has never been out of print.
As guests sampled the array of refreshments alongside endless cups of an exclusive blend of tea inspired by the apples trees on the Orchard House property, they eagerly waited to hear from Jan Turnquist, director of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts to talk about her experience as a background actor on the set, as well as about the Alcott legacy. But before we met Turnquist, we met Louisa May Alcott herself.
Turnquist appeared in-character as Alcott, with no knowledge of the 21st century and clad in garb appropriate to the 1860s. She told the guests of her love of reading and writing, how she devoured Shakespeare’s works, and of her father’s radical educational reform in the 19th century, including –the most radical of all –recess outdoors! As ever the introverted writer, she told the audience a quip about how she would pretend to be a kitchen maid when she saw a stranger come to the house so she wouldn’t have to talk to them.
After Alcott disappeared, Turnquist reemerged and happily recounted the once-in-a-lifetime experience on set of the new film. She revers director Greta Gerwig’s passion for Alcott and knew the film was in good hands. “This film is Greta Gerwig’s love letter to Louisa May Alcott,” said Turnquist. “You can feel the inspiration she had for Louisa May Alcott herself,” she added.
She also met several of the actors, including Laura Dern, Marmee in this version, and even gave a private tour of Orchard House to Bob Odenkirk, who portrays Mr. March. “The cast is brilliant, every single one,” Turnquist said. “I really love the movie.”
Turnquist recounted a shoot until 4 AM where she and the other actors wore thick plastic coverings underneath their costumes to film in a heavy rain scene–the weather, of course, cooperating on cue from rain machines. Regardless of any discomfort in the drenched, late-night shoot, Turnquist values her experience on set. “It was all worth it,” she said fervently and with a smile.
When the tea party guests had a chance to ask questions, one woman in took the opportunity to ask about the origin of one of the book’s favorite characters, Laurie, the boy next door to the March sisters. Turnquist is clearly an expert at all-things Alcott and her great knowledge of Alcott’s journals answers the burning question that Laurie was a combination of several boys Louisa May Alcott knew–one including Julian Hawthorne, son of author and real-life neighbor, Nathaniel Hawthorne. “I think every you man in Concord would claim to be a part of Laurie,” said Turnquist. But the major inspiration for Laurie came from Ladislas “Laddie” Wisniewski, a young Polish boy who left a lasting impression on the writer after she met him when she was on a European tour as a personal companion.
Turnquist also encouraged visitors not only to visit the real Orchard House in Concord, but a visit to Orchard House at Christmastime is especially magical. The yearly living history program takes visitors around the house to meet the March sisters and be immersed in Alcott’s world. The program is updated every year, but an account of the 2016 Orchard House Christmas event is available here.
No Alcott fan, or even any cinephile, would pass up an opportunity to see filming locations, and Boston lent itself easily to help bring the story to life again. Though the locations were not explicitly described in the scavenger hunt packets the guests received, it was clear that some of the recognizable locations like the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel and the Emerson Colonial Theater played roles in the film.
Regardless if you have a favorite character or have never read the story, everyone will find something to connect to in Little Women. Though the book opens with Jo March lamenting the lack of Christmas presents, but luckily this Christmas, the new film is a present for all of us.
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