Into The Woods

Photo credit: Scott Gorman.

In many beloved fairy tales, a deep dark forest plays an important supporting role. Either rife with enchantment or thick with danger, the woods act as a mysterious entity that can change the course of the story the moment a character sets foot inside it. Such is the case with Into the Woods, a magical musical with unforgettable music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, now on stage in a new production directed by Jeremy Hutton at the University of Toronto's Hart House Theatre. The show made its Broadway debut in 1987, winning several Tony Awards including Best Score. Audiences will immediately recognize the players—Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel—but the outcome of their stories is not what we expect. Featuring a talented cast, storybook setting, and whimsical music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick, Hart House's charming performance takes us on a journey into the complex lives and minds of characters we thought we knew.

Sondheim's award-winning music is showcased as soon as the curtain rises on the Hart House stage, as several characters share their individual stories and wishes with the audience. Cinderella (Michelle Nash) sadly watches her sisters and mother get ready for the ball, Little Red Riding Hood (Sarite Harris) bounces along on her way to see her grandmother, stopping to see the Baker (James King) and his wife (Amy Swift) on her way. This couple has been trying to have a child, to no avail, and once Red leaves, a Witch (Saphire Demitro) bursts into their home and we discover that a curse is the reason why they cannot conceive. As is the case in many fairy tales, a bargain is struck between the Baker and the Witch, and the Baker and his wife set out into the woods to hopefully make their dream a reality. At the same time, the audience meets the young Jack (Colin Ascuncion), who lives with his mother (Erin Winsor) and a milky white cow (played impressively by Maksym Shkvorets).

The plots of several fairy tales by the Grimm Brothers and Charles Perrault are intertwined like tree branches in this intruiging musical, creating a truly engrossing narrative. Costume designer Michelle Tracey and set designer Joe Pagnan bring many childhood fantasies to life through the use of colour, lighting, and a variety of costumes.

Into the Woods allows for well-known characters to be fleshed out like never before, and Nash's Cinderella is an excellent example, as she is an intelligent, independent young woman unsure of her Prince. Harris is sassy and fierce as Little Red Riding Hood, bringing a big personality to a fairy tale character who was previously one-dimensional. Each character learns lessons and achieves personal growth, which makes the show very complex and emotionally charged at times. These moments are balanced out by hilarious performances such as “Agony” performed by Cinderella's Prince (Hugh Ritchie) and Rapunzel's Prince (Chiano Panth), which pokes fun at the idea of Prince Charming. Another highlight is “Moments in the Woods," performed by Swift as the Baker's Wife, who finds out more about herself than she ever anticipated.

Don't miss this unusual fairy tale beautifully realized by the Hart House Theatre team. Into the Woods is on stage until January 30, 2016. Visit harthouse.ca for more information and to buy tickets.