1/27/2010

Three Forms, One Story


It isn’t often that I can embrace other forms a book I love, though on occasion, it happens. Such as Emma by Jane Austen and the movie Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. Or the book Les Miserables and the musical Les Miserables. Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a story in its shorter form when time doesn’t allow for re-reading the entire book. And that is especially true when it is a book that inspires.

Like Little Women. I love that book, but don’t often have the time to sit down and re-read the whole thing. That’s why I love the movie, the Wynona Rider version. But in times such as now, as I’m editing like crazy, two hours is a precious commodity. That’s why it was so wonderful the other night, as I traveled to a business dinner with my husband, to put in the cast recording of Little Women: The Musical.

We saw the show a few years ago when it came to Dallas Summer Musicals. I went with trepidation, afraid I would hate it. But I didn’t hate it. In fact, I really enjoyed it! Then last year, my daughter’s school performed it. We bought the CD the minute it was announced, and I remembered again how much I loved the music. The songs not only capture the characters, but they are songs you will sing in your head, the music as inspiring as the story.

It’s nice to have different, sometimes more convenient ways to experience a story as timeless as Little Women. But then again, each of the other makes me long to experience the book once more.

1 comment:

Debra E. Marvin said...

I never knew there was a Little Women musical. I'll have to check that out.

Another new Emma on Masterpiece Theatre starts this week. It will be interesting to see how they do with a three part miniseries.

I hope your edits are going well!