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‘Into the Woods’ Mixes and Matches Fairy Tales
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Thursday, September 21, 2017
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

It starts with the familiar refrain, “Once Upon a Time.”

And it features the characters from beloved fairy tales, such as Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella.

But, then things turn unfamiliar as the characters venture “Into the Woods” in Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical.

St. Thomas Playhouse is taking this ambitious musical for a spin tonight through Sunday, Sept. 21-24, at Community School Theatre.

And those who enjoy imagining what might have taken place after the “happy ever after” endings will enjoy the ride.

The musical mixes and mashes the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales as it explores the consequences involved with the leading characters in those tales go into the woods on a journey to achieve their wish.

“The woods are a metaphor,” says Director Brett Moellenberg. “They are the uncomfortable place where we reside, while journeying from one path to another. They are the excitement, stress, sweat, joy and longing we feel as our lives begin to change, either voluntarily or otherwise; and, this piece showcases the foolishness of believing that the journey is ever over.”

In fact, the entire first act of this musical is dedicated to tricking many of the characters that their journey has led them to “happy ever after,” adds Moellenberg.

“Most of them work very hard and take risks to achieve their dreams of the happiest life possible. And then…Act Two happens. “

The story is strung together by the quest of a childless baker and his wife played by Ward and Courtney Loving to begin a family, inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ “Rapunzel.”

But alas, The Witch—played by Sara Gorby, who is a show in herself with her contorted facial and body expressions—has placed a curse on their line after finding the Baker’s father stealing vegetables from her garden.

And, so, they set out on a journey into the woods to find four important items—“the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold”—to break the curse.

Along the way, they encounter Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s ball; Jack, who wishes his cow Milky White would give milk; Little Red Riding Hood, who wishes for bread to take to her grandmother, and Rapunzel, who was stolen from the Baker’s father at birth.

By the end of the first act, the characters would seem to have resolved their quests, with everyone living happily ever after.

But Sondheim didn’t stop there. He and James Lapine created Act Two, instead, starting it with the words, “Once upon a time….later.”

Seems the characters are not content with their hoped-for lot in life. And so it goes. At least, until the characters conclude, “Into the woods and out of the woods and happily ever after.”

The musical is a feast for the eyes with trees designed by Jamey Reynolds stretching to the heights of the tall theater ceiling over facades of fireplaces, ovens and wood stoves.

Alison Higdon has created a costume designer’s fantasy, from the feathered heads of flitting birds to the fur-covered toes of the wolf.

Lizzie Loving has watched rehearsals numerous times since her parents play the Baker and the Baker’s Wife.

“I love how all the fairy tales are put together,” she said.

Alysha Hershey, who plays violin in the orchestra under the direction of Dorinda Rendahl, said the 347-page musical score keeps the orchestra on its toes.

“The score is not as discordant as most of Sondheim’s are. Even in the second act when things are going haywire, it’s pretty peppy,” she said. “My violin part is very rhythmic, percussive, like a motor. And there are lots of pieces going at once. The actors are singing all these different harmonies, different words and different notes all at the same time. Sometimes, it’s like organized chaos.”

And, just as Grimm's Fairy Tales had their morals, this musical features a variety of themes along the way, including love and loss, loyalty and fidelity, trust and selflessness, monotony and fear, said Moellenberg.

The musical won several Tony Awards, including Best Score for its tongue-twisting tunes and Best Book when it premiered on Broadway in 1987, despite premiering on Broadway in 1987—a year dominated by “The Phantom of the Opera.”

A Disney adaptation directed by Rob Marshall and starring Tracey Ullman, Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep was released in 2014. It received three Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations, while bringing more than $213 million at the box office.

In addition to the Lovings, Melodie Taylor-Mauldin and her Luke Mauldin play Jack and Jack’s Mother. Meredith Skillman plays Cinderella, while Karen Nelsen, Annabelle Lewis and Annabel Webster play her stepmother and stepsisters and Todd Schweider, her prince.

Emma Desserault plays Little Red Riding Hood and John Mauldin, the Big Bad Wolf, while Bronwyn Regan plays her grandmother.

Gina Pullerio plays Rapunzel and Isaac Brannon her prince. Andrew Alburger plays the Narrator and Mysterious Man. Andrew Schiers and Sarah Feltman play stewards, while Page Klune provides the voice of the Giant.

An ensemble of youngsters and adults flesh out the production, led by vocal coach John Mauldin and spotlighted by Jay Cutler.

IF YOU GO…

What: “Into the Woods”

When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 21-23; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept 23-24.

Where: Community School Theatre

Tickets: $25 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and younger, available at www.st.thomasplayhouse.org or by calling 208-726-5349, extension 15.

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