It is hard to know what has prevented literary spoof specialists Lip Service from getting their claws into Louisa May Alcott's classic before now. Perhaps it is because there are four little women and only two members of Lip Service. And one of them is six foot two inches tall.
But with special guest Matthew Vaughan dragged in - literally - to swell the sisterly ranks, the duo do a good job of doubling up, with a ventriloqist's doll to fill in the gaps. It's all rather hectic, but commendably done, though the dummy's performance is perhaps a little wooden.
Otherwise, this anarchic take on Amercian adolesence has plenty of period darn. Yes, you read that right - the programme doubles up as an embroidery sampler in the shape of a delightful kitten. Lip Service shows tend to follow a certain formula, but that's how their legion of fans prefer them. At best, the physical interraction between Maggie Fox and Sue Ryding transcends words. They have only to trade boss-eyed, open-mouthed glances to be pant-wettingly funny.
The staging is, as ever, a flat-pack farrago of wonky props and ill-timed sound effects. They certainly have some very unusual weather in this part of Massachusets - particularly the sudden snow flurries, which can be gimpsed out of the window, scrolling upwards.
But there is pathos as well as parody in the devastating portrayal of Beth - angelic, consumptive and clearly not long for this show. The moment when her soul ascends to heaven, on a long piece of string, brings tears to the eyes. You'll want to pack plenty of tissues. And maybe a change of underwear.
· Until Saturday. Box office: 0161-236 7110. Then touring.
