INTO THE WOODS by Stephen Sondheim
INTO THE WOODS; Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim & Book by James Lapine. Directed by Brooke Knight. Musical direction by Rick Reynolds. Broadway By the Bay (BBBay),
September 18- October 5.
LOST IN THE WOODS
After seeing three local productions of “Into The Woods”, it is inevitable to make comparisons. This production, although professionally mounted with a good to excellent singers did not produce the excitement expected from Broadway by the Bay. Most of the dissatisfaction can be attributed to the direction that overemphasizes visual humor that hits you over the head proclaiming, “Isn’t this a riot?” Further, it is not necessary to have various characters running around screaming at the top of their voices to signify fright.
Sondheim and Lapine’s contorted view of fairy-tales begins with a narrator, who doubles as Mysterious Man (Marc Jacobs) saying “Once upon a time, a Baker and his Wife journey into the woods. . .” where they meet Little Red Riding Hood (Alanna Pinell, Cinderella (Mindy Lym), Jack of Beanstalk fame (Nick Balian), Rapunzel (Brittany Ogle), two Princes (David Sattler & Evan J. Boomer) and a menagerie of other characters. The creators have added their own fairy tale of a Baker (Paul Araquistain), and his wife (Lee Ann Payne) who is childless due to a curse placed on them by the neighboring Witch (Elise Marie Cordle) because the baker’s father has stolen the greens from her garden. This is the first bit of morality that abounds in the play; the sins of the father shall be passed on to the son.
The witch will remove the curse if they venture forth (into the woods) and gather ingredients for a potion to remove the curse. Searching for the ingredients the Baker and his wife meet the aforementioned characters. Each possesses one ingredient: Jack “a cow as white as milk”, Red Riding Hood “the cape as red as blood”, Rapunzel “the hair as yellow as corn” and Cinderella “a slipper as pure as gold.” All have ventured “into the woods” for their own purpose to “find what they wish for.” By the end of the energetic, humorous, intriguing 90-minute first act all have found what they wish for singing a rousing first act curtain chorus of “Ever After” and they should “live happily ever after.”
My personal choice would be to head home in a happy mood after the first act curtain. It is not to be. There is the admonishment to “beware of what you wish for.” The narrator’s Act II prologue “So Happy” ends with the Baker’s house destroyed by a huge footprint. The widow of the Giant Jack has slain is back to seek her revenge. Back into the woods they all go. This time the plot is indeed black surrounded by death and destruction and “happily ever after” is not to be. Sondheim interjects a hopeful note with the plaintive “No One Is Alone” and the finale “Children Will Listen.”
Marc Jacobs as the narrator and Mysterious man is perfect and is the glue that keeps the story going. Pity that the Giant’s widow throws him into oblivion thus predicting the characters will never know how their stories will end. Elise Marie Cordle makes the wicked witch wicked, while singing Sondheim’s convoluted lyrics, and is gorgeous when transformed into a mere mortal with no unearthly powers. Paul Araquistain as the gentle but reticent Baker is the splendid foil for Lee Ann Payne (the wife) whose voice and acting almost steals the show. Almost, but not quite, since Mindy Lym matches her vocal/acting ability. Nick Balian is charming and loveable as Jack of Beanstalk fame and David Sattler and Evan J. Boomer are a joy to watch as they preen and prance on and off stage. Alanna Pinell needs to tone down her depiction of gluttonous Little Red Riding Hood. To mention all 19 members of the cast would make a long review. Be assured they all perform admirably with enthusiasm, zany humor, and flair while seeming to have fun. Running time 2 hours and 50 minutes with intermission.
Courtesy of TheatreWorld Internet Magazine