By Rosemary Ford
Staff Writer

Two great shows are onstage right now in Boston, both well known stories but they couldn't be more different.

"Little Women: The Musical" comes to the Hub from Broadway, along with star Maureen McGovern. It's the same touching story you remember: four lively sisters coming of age during the Civil War. In this case, though, the story is set to music, joyful and at times, heart-achingly beautiful music.

The show is playing at Boston's Opera House through Sunday. If you have time, check it out. In a completely different vein, the wicked, sexy and funny "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" starring TV star Michael T. Weiss ("The Pretender") is on stage at the Huntington Theatre.

With a lavish set and dazzling costumes rooted in both the 1780s and 1980s (weird how well the two periods can merge), it's a visually stunning piece.

Weiss' deadpan humor and a devilishly well-cast ensemble make for a greatly entertaining show on par with the movie version starring John Malkovich and Glenn Close.

"Little Women" runs through Sunday at the Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston. Tickets cost $25 to $87.50, and are available through Ticketmaster.com, by calling (617) 931-2787 or visiting the box office.

"Les Liaisons Dangereuses" runs through Feb. 5, at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston. Tickets are $15 to $70. Available at Huntingtontheatre.org or BostonTheatreScene.com, by phone at (617) 266-0800, or in person at the Boston University Theatre box office, 264 Huntington Ave., or the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St.

Rosemary Ford is an arts and entertainment reporter for the Eagle-Tribune Publishing Co.