Woking Amateur Operatic Society
Into The Woods (May 2009)
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Into The Woods was performed from 5th - 9th May 2009 at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking.
History and Introduction
Into The Woods is an award-winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at The Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters’ performance as the Witch, and Joanna Gleason’s portrayal of the Baker’s Wife brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run. Into The Woods won several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book and Best Actress in a Musical.
A bewitching cast of classic Brothers Grimm fairy-tale characters who romp through a “happily ever after” kingdom, interweaving in a hilarious mix of an ambivalent Cinderella, a blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood, a Prince Charming with a roving eye, a Witch who raps, Jack (who climbed the beanstalk) and Rapunzel to name but a few. The plot has many layers which ends happily in Act I when everyone’s wishes are granted, enabling the characters to then explore the “happily ever after” in Act II. However, the consequences of their actions return to haunt them with disastrous results, culminating in personal journeys of wit, melody, sentiment, light and darkness. What begins as a lively fantasy becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children, helping the characters to decide what path to take, what wishes to make and ultimately, what to discover with regard to love, loss, values and choices.
The basic plot follows the adventures of a poor Baker and his Wife, who want to have a child more than anything and are promised a child by an evil Witch, with secrets of her own. If they can bring her Little Red Riding Hood’s cape, Cinderella’s slipper, Jack’s cow and a lock of Rapunzel’s hair, then their wish will come true… or will it?!
It is their journey into the woods to find these items that provides the plot for this delightfully imaginative musical.
Sondheim has provided lush melodies and intricate musical arrangements where characters sing over the top of each other and it is sometimes virtually impossible to catch everything that is being sung.
Photos from the Dress Rehearsal
