Spring Break
Into the woods
by Michelle Minkoff
Theater | 4/24/07
Posted online at 12:54 AM EST on 4/24/07
If there's anything to be gleaned from Into The Woods, it's that even the most beloved of fairy tales are not sacred.
Bringing new life to the familiar stories we knew as children, Tympanium Euphorium's production of the Stephen Sondheim play quickly swept its audience into a fantasy world with a bewitching set and a dazzling cast.
The play throws together Little Red Riding Hood (Abby Trott '08), Cinderella (Olivia Mell '09), Jack (Harley Yanoff '08)-of "and the Beanstalk" fame-and Rapunzel (Kara Manson '08). The various characters travel into the titular woods in hopes of fullfilling their wishes during the first act; the consequences of the characters' achievement of their wishes, as well as the lessons they learn, make up the second act.
Sondheim's work is never simple, demanding strong voices from every character. Often, as many as seven different actors sing different lyrics and melodies simultaneously. Combined with a live orchestra that occasionally drowned out voices, it was sometimes difficult to hear the words. Still, the lyrics retained a large degree of clarity.
As an ensemble show, most characters had equitable roles yet stood out through physical and vocal quirks-whether it was Cinderella tripping on the path regularly or Rapunzel's Prince's (Justin Becker '09) hysterical hand motions as he lamented the agony of love. The Baker's Wife (Jordan Butterfield '07) and Cinderella also stood out with powerful voices.
But the Witch (Elizabeth Masalsky '08) had a proportionally larger part to play, because of her numerous lamentations. As the play progresses, she transforms from an ugly hag to a beautiful maiden, yet retains a hideous soul. Masalsky portrayed the part with the expected evil laugh; she wielded power and, most importantly, a shred of humanity, when singing two of the play's most powerful pieces: "Children Will Listen" and "It's the Last Midnight." As she was describing how a giant would "boom-squish" characters, it seemed as though there really was cause to be frightened.
Bringing new life to the familiar stories we knew as children, Tympanium Euphorium's production of the Stephen Sondheim play quickly swept its audience into a fantasy world with a bewitching set and a dazzling cast.
The play throws together Little Red Riding Hood (Abby Trott '08), Cinderella (Olivia Mell '09), Jack (Harley Yanoff '08)-of "and the Beanstalk" fame-and Rapunzel (Kara Manson '08). The various characters travel into the titular woods in hopes of fullfilling their wishes during the first act; the consequences of the characters' achievement of their wishes, as well as the lessons they learn, make up the second act.
Sondheim's work is never simple, demanding strong voices from every character. Often, as many as seven different actors sing different lyrics and melodies simultaneously. Combined with a live orchestra that occasionally drowned out voices, it was sometimes difficult to hear the words. Still, the lyrics retained a large degree of clarity.
As an ensemble show, most characters had equitable roles yet stood out through physical and vocal quirks-whether it was Cinderella tripping on the path regularly or Rapunzel's Prince's (Justin Becker '09) hysterical hand motions as he lamented the agony of love. The Baker's Wife (Jordan Butterfield '07) and Cinderella also stood out with powerful voices.
But the Witch (Elizabeth Masalsky '08) had a proportionally larger part to play, because of her numerous lamentations. As the play progresses, she transforms from an ugly hag to a beautiful maiden, yet retains a hideous soul. Masalsky portrayed the part with the expected evil laugh; she wielded power and, most importantly, a shred of humanity, when singing two of the play's most powerful pieces: "Children Will Listen" and "It's the Last Midnight." As she was describing how a giant would "boom-squish" characters, it seemed as though there really was cause to be frightened.
Be the first to comment on this story