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What is it about the woods that make them so full of foreboding, weird going-ons and some magic?! Literature abounds with these notions. One only needs to think of William Shakespeare and his comedies such as A Midsummer’s Night Dream and As You Like It. Then there is of-course there is Stephen Sondheim’s INTO THE WOODS.
The story follows The Baker and his Wife, who wish to have a child, Cinderella, who wishes to go to the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would produce some milk. When the Baker and his Wife are visited by the neighborhood Witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse.
Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her Grandmother, the Wolf, who is hungry for flesh, Rapunzel in the tower, and the Princes chasing after their loves. By the end of Act I, everyone has gotten their wish and will seemingly live happily ever after. But in Act II, when Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant, we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways. The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but will the characters come together, because sacrifices have to be made.
Act 1 is played out in a frenetic and often comic fashion with the characters ‘partying’ whilst in Act 2 life becomes much tougher and the characters have their lessons to learn.
Eamon Flack’s production brings this Stephen Sondheim classic richly to life. I am choosing not to single out performances. It would be unfair to do so.Suffice to say that every actor was equal in vocal capacity as well as acting ability, and all gave impressive, impassioned performances. Each performer complemented the others, and the overall blend was top-notch. There were strong harmonies from the duets to the quintets. For the full cast details see the credits at the end of the review.
Flack’s creative team excelled. Michael Hankin platform set, with a revolve/mobile function, worked well. Damien Cooper’s lighting, and Sally Dashwood’s choreography.
Simon Holt and Anne-Maree McDonald (as well as playing the Stepmother) provided the musical accompaniment on pianos.
INTO THE WOODS is playing upstairs at Belvoir Street Theatre until the 30th April 2023.
CAST:
Jack and Steward MARTY ALIX
Rapunzel, Florinda and Granny STEFANIE CACCAMO
MysteriousMan, Narrator and Cinsderella’s father PETER CARROLL
Witch TASMIN CARROLL
Rapunzel’s Prince and Lucinda ANDREW COSHAN
Jack’s mother LENA CRUZ
Cinderella’s Prince and Wolf- TIM DRAXL
Baker’s wife ESTHER HANNAFORD
Piano 1 SIMON HOLT
Cinderella SHUBSHRI KANDIAH
Little Red RIding Hood MO LOVEGROVE
Stepmother and Piano 2 ANNE-MARIE MCDONALD
The voice of Cinderella’s mother MARNEY MCQUEEN
The voice of the Giant PAMELA RABE
The Baker JUSTIN SMITH
THE CREATIVES (main)
Director EAMON FLACK
Choreographer SALLY DASHWOOD
Set Designer MICHAEL HANKI
Costume Designer MICKA AGOSTA
Lighting Designer DAMIEN COOPER
Sound Designer- DAVID BERGMAN
Featured image : Tasmin Carroll plays the Witch in ‘Into The Woods’. Production photography by Christopher Hayles
