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.

[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?