Theatre Now got a chance to have a chat with Kathy Xenos who plays Jo March in Little Women currently playing at The Independent Theatre in North Sydney.
1. Tell us about why Little Women is a show you resonate with?
Little Women was the first novel that we studied in High School and I have been in love with the story ever since. I grew up in a house full of boys, so it was sort of an escape for me; a little window into what it might be like to have sisters and what those relationships might look and feel like. It was such a foreign world, but the way it was written made it feel like home to me. I also find the way that the story transcends time to be remarkable – I mean, the musical took the stage over 130 years after the novel was written, and while some aspects are different, the characters and their lives are still extraordinarily relatable and empathetic, which is a huge reason I think it resonates with audiences, even so many years later. The story’s themes of love, family, and sisterhood, coming of age and pursuing your passions never seem to age and are always so fun to watch and be a part of. Personally, I was also incredibly obsessed with Sutton Foster in high school, and always followed her career quite closely, so it was an inevitability that I would love the musical for that reason as well!
2. What has it been like rehearsing the show as the lead role, Jo March? What challenges have you come up against?
Playing Jo is an absolute dream. I’m often pinching myself because I cannot believe I get the chance to play her. In my time being involved with theatre, I haven’t seen this show done a lot and it is one that means the world to me, so to have this chance coincide with a time I could do the show is a blessing. Of course, with any lead role, there are challenges. She’s a demanding character to portray due to the fact that she’s onstage almost the entire show, so it’s important that the audience not only relates to her, but also empathises with and understands her reasoning and actions on every step of her journey. It is a significant portion of her life that the musical covers, most moments being emotionally driven, so finding the authenticity and drive in each scene has also been really important to understanding her character. She’s very outgoing and confident, (and so far removed from how I am!), which has been fun to explore, but she’s also very generous and has a huge heart, is family-focused and so determined, which are all such beautiful traits and so special as it was rare for women to exemplify being bold and headstrong in the era of the story’s setting. And playing a role that the incomparable Sutton Foster has played is a challenge in itself, but I do feel very lucky to be given the chance, and am trying to put as much of myself into her as possible.
3. Can you tell us about Jon Emmett’s directorial style? What can we expect from the North Shore Theatre Company’s production of the show?
Jon is quite the visionary. His ideas are always so openly expressed to us, and there’s always a wonderful, clear line of communication between us. It can be quite frustrating when you put on a show and even by opening night, there are lots of ambiguities and misunderstandings that were never clarified, but Jon ensured that even from the first rehearsal, we were getting into the mindset of our characters, had clear ideas of who they were and how we were going to play them, and, most importantly, their relationships and the important journeys that they embark on in the show. The show is extremely touching and we are very lucky to have such a phenomenal cast and team working together. I can assure you that this show will strike a chord with you, no matter who you are or what your story may be. Being a part of this show has been very special, and an experience I’ll never forget.
4. What are some of your favourite moments in the show audiences should look out for?
The show is filled with fantastic moments, and I find myself loving new and different scenes every time we run it. I personally am partial to the scenes with any of my sisters, especially when they’re playing and having fun with each other. I also love a number of the duets – Some Things Are Meant to Be and More Than I Am are some gorgeous moments that will tug at your heartstrings. And, of course, Astonishing, because it means so much to me and it’s such a thrilling, powerful part of the show. It’s the culmination of all of Jo’s realisations, hopes and dreams in a huge musical moment, and I’m so lucky that I get the chance to perform it.
5. Tell us what it’s like playing a lead role who hardly ever leaves the stage! What has it been like playing such a demanding role?
It’s quite possible that Jo has the most stage time of any character I’ve played! You’re absolutely right, Jo rarely leaves the stage, so even when she’s not singing, she’s being sung to! I think that’s part of the fun of it though – she’s so energetic and brash and unapologetically herself, and that’s a really fun character to play, but she’s also the heart of the show, and I love that about her, as well as the way in which she cares for, loves and interacts with the other characters in the show. It can be an absolute mad dash for some scenes, with some very quick costume changes and so forth, but it’s all part of the fun. I think the most important thing, with respect to such a demanding role, is to stay in the moment and travel on that journey with Jo every time we run the show, for each and every instant of every scene. Staying present and focusing is a really powerful thing when there’s so much to do and so much ahead of you before every show, but I love Jo to pieces, so every moment is an absolute joy.
