BAD NEWS—Right, Jo March (Anna Graves) is given a telegram from home by her New York landlord, Mrs. Kirk (Kim Blake) in "Little Women the Musical" at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. Actor's Repertory Theatre of Simi's production of "Little Women: the Musical," directed by David Ralphe with musical director Gary Poirot, interprets Louisa May Alcott's best-selling novel as a feminist manifesto. The protagonist, Josephine "Jo" March, is determined to succeed as a famous writer, darn the torpedoes and the conventions of 19th century high society.

The musical (book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Jason Howland) takes Alcott's 500-page novel about four sisters growing up and focuses on Jo's singleminded artistic aspirations. We see her family life only as it affects her goals. This presentation is not as irreverent as it sounds, since Alcott herself, who based the novel on her own childhood, never married and was an abolitionist, a feminist and a supporter of women's suffrage— she was the first woman registered to vote in Concord, Mass.

In the play, Jo (Anna Graves) sequesters herself in the home attic in Concord to write cheesy pulp fiction, what she calls "blood and guts" stories (Alcott herself published such tales), and melodramas for her sisters to act out.

She meets many obstacles on her road to success: Aunt March (Kim Blake), who insists that Jo dismiss her writing so she may behave like a lady and marry well; Laurie (Timothy Hearl), the boy next door who wants to marry Jo despite her tomboy ways and her desire to stay single; the New York publishers, who tell Jo to stop writing and get married; and Professor Bhaer (David Daniels), who informs Jo that her potboiler stories are, to put it bluntly, bad writing. What's a budding artist to do?

Jo finds support in her loving family: mother Marmee (Christine Zirbel) and three sisters— Meg (Elizabeth Stockton), Beth (Tessa Grady) and the youngest, Amy (Dawn Notagiacomo), who's tired of hand-me-downs and living in the shadow of Jo's talent.

But Jo finds her family ties unraveling when her father goes off to serve in the Civil War, Meg falls in love with John Brooke (Kristan Cleto), Amy burns Jo's stories in a jealous fit, Beth contracts a fatal illness, and Marmee leaves home to care for their father in an Army hospital. What's a sister to do?

Graves brings great fire and spunk to her Jo. Notagiacomo portrays young Amy with the right balance of childish temper and sweetness. It's fun to watch her change into a "sophisticated" (snobby) lady under Aunt March's tutelage. Grady is a pleasant and loving Beth, although she seems too perky during her illness scene. Stockton portrays a shy Meg who's funny when she's squealing with good news to tell.

The supporting cast is commendable. Hearl's a jolly schoolboy. Kim Blake embodies the stiffly proper aunt who lives and breathes by the etiquette book. Daniels does well as the quiet German professor who's pulled out of his scholarly shell by Jo's liveliness. Mr. Laurence (David Burr), the Marchs' disagreeable neighbor, has a nice transformation as his broken heart is healed by Beth's piano playing.

While the play is billed as family friendly, youngsters will find the three-hour running time a challenge to sit through. The unremarkable songs pad out the story without adding to it. The show opens with a nifty musical number in which one of Jo's stories is cleverly acted out, but the novelty loses its punch when it's repeated in Act II. And Jo sings about reaching her dreams not once but several times to pound home the message.

The best use of the music is with "Off to Massachusetts," a charming duet with Beth and Mr. Laurence; "Could You," where Aunt March tries to instruct Jo on ladyhood; "Five Forever," the show's only "dance" number; and "Small Umbrella in the Rain," when the Professor shares his feelings with Jo.

The visually interesting set designs and technical effects are all superb and expertly executed. The period costumes change in styles to match the girls growing up.

Despite the overlong script, the story is charming, the characters are sweet and dreamers will be inspired to keep the faith.

The show continues on weekends through Sept. 7 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. For tickets, call (805) 583-7900.