I submit to the wisdom of LiveJournal

[fancycwabs]

So, I've been asked to step in as a replacement for Professor Bhaer in the local production of Little Women, and I've got to confess I know NOTHING about the story. I always just assumed that it was basically The Facts of Life set in the 1800s. Looking at IMdB, however, I noticed that there are some relatively famous actors who've played the role over the years:

[Poll #1170890]

Any insight into the story, or the character, or snarky comments would be much appreciated.

Especially if, you know, you've actually read the book.

Comments

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

He is a giant softie. Jo runs off to The Big City to work as a governess, and while she's happy with her work, she is unbearably lonely in the city. The Professor, though shy, is very perceptive and kind about that.

He also is her door to the kinds of culture that she hadn't had exposure to, like opera. He's an old-world egghead sort of fellow, and a giant romantic---the sort who runs off to her hometown to tell her that her book has been published, but when he runs into her childhood sweetheart (Laurie), he leaves the book and wanders off in woe.

But then of course they get married and set about moving from Little Women to Little Men, a far inferior book.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Ah, so he is exactly the sort of person Theo Maske complains about in The Underpants.

THEO: Yes, I've seen these sensitive men singing their hearts out on the stage, crooning love songs and weeping over their lady loves. Why would a woman want a man who acts like a woman? Let women go off and write poems and stand on the stage singing of their broken hearts. Men, strong, vital men, should be at their desks, filing files and stamping documents and going home at five o'clock.

And yet, Theo and the professor SHARE THE SAME STYLE MUSTACHE! Unless the director asks me to shave.

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

He's not girly: he's just European.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Theo is kinda a bigot and misogynist in the Archie Bunker vein--only not as lovable. Also German.

[meedja.livejournal.com]

Ah, just read the Wikipedia entry, and settled my confusion. The second part is printed in the UK as Good Wives. That will be why I was getting my brain in a mess.

[mybadhairlife.livejournal.com]

In Little Women, I could see the attraction.

In in the following books, he was a complete dick to her and she was supposed to learn life lessons from this and become a woman because of it at which point I wanted to whack Louisa May Alcott and Professor Bhaer with a big stick.

*YMMV.

[mcduff.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it and don't know a damn thing about the character, but in what world is "William Shatner" not the right answer to any question?

[magicninja.livejournal.com]

I agree. I am also glad to see Ole Bill leading the way. WWWSD indeed.