REVIEW: Into the Woods at the Theatre Royal, Bath

 

The combination of Stephen Sondheim’s extraordinary score (less than a year after his death), Terry Gilliam’s outlandish creative ideas, Leah Hausman’s extensive operatic movement and choreography, a cast with the Julian Bleach recreating the weirdness of The Grinning man and Audrey Brisson captivating us as she did in Amelie, the evocative staging of a Pollock’s Toy Theatre and the glorious setting of the intimate Theatre Royal Bath combine in this production of Into the Woods in theatrical alchemy to create a wonderful celebration of this amazing composer. Sondheim’s music can be something of an acquired taste, but once acquired the joy never leaves you. Though the songs are not as memorable as those from Gypsy or Sweeney Todd, there is a wonderful tongue-in-cheek joy to the mash-up of traditional well-known fairy-tale stories and its commentary on the human condition with its themes of growing up, morality and wish fulfilment. This version does not seem so macabre as I recall it, although the majority of characters do die, the staging and childlike setting of the toy theatre give it a more engaging emotional connection so that the final songs of “No One is Alone” and “Children Should Listen” are much more touching and meaningful.

Gilliam’s creative stamp is throughout the show with moments reminiscent of his Monty Python animations and his more outlandish movies. The dressed proscenium arch and forestage which mirrors Pollock’s toy theatre centre stage immediately set the tone as you enter the venue. The young girl playing with it, placing the tin cans and vases on stage brings you into her world of imagination before she invites you to watch the show. The delightfully comic Milky White (played with great physicality by Faith Prendergast) looks and acts like the girl’s toy. The Baked Bean tin becomes Rapunzel’s tower and the 2d sets look like they have been cut out of the Toy Theatre kit. The use of the stage left box in the false proscenium for the Stepsisters (Charlotte Jaconelli and Jamie Birkett) is also very effective. When the Giant arrives, it is a cross between the Monty Python giant foot and the terrifying doll’s head from Toy Story. Visually it's stunning in its theatricality and creativity.

REVIEW: Into the Woods at The Cockpit Theatre

The Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone is a black box space set in the round. Walking in the set is busy and beautiful and as you wait for the performance of All Star Productions, Into the Woods. The set engages you to be looking around, walking over bark to your seats as one person starts on stage. It’s a remarkable set; ladders reaching up creating dimension and reach. Working in the round is difficult but this set made it slightly more accessible. 

The space is perfect for this production. The lighting and set engulf the audience and make it more immersive than expected. 

Following the zeitgeist of innovative staging which I first fell in love with in La Strada there is a strong ensemble feel from the off. 

Sondheim’s Into the Woods is a classic. Taking the fairytales we know and love so well and putting an unfamiliar couple (The Baker and his Wife) right in the middle of them on their quest to have a baby. The first act shows us a twist on the tales we love; Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. In the second half it flips everything on it’s head by adding real-life elements to the fantastical and perfect worlds we have grown up with. 

Cast announced for INTO THE WOODS at the Cockpit Theatre

This May, All Star Productions – Winner of the Best Producer in the Off-West End Awards 2018 – join forces with Trilby Productions to bring their fresh new adaptation of James Lapine and StephenSondheim’s Into the Woods to The Cockpit. Performed in the round, this darkly comic production has been given a 21st century twist with an ensemble of seventeen larger-than-life characters drawn from modern day Britain.

This wonderful adaptation of Into the Woods stars Jordan Michael Todd (Mad on Her, The Arts Theatre; Pippin, Southwark Playhouse) as the narrator. Director Tim McArthur, whose roles have ranged from As You Like It to Assassins at Pleasance Theatre, will take on the role as the Baker alongside Jo Wickham (winner of the Break A Leg award for best comedic performance in The Comedy of Errors at the Red Lion, Barnes) who reprises her role as the Baker’s Wife. Michele Moran (LesEnfants Terribles’ Alice’s Adventures Underground; Beyond the Fence, The Arts Theatre) will play the Witch who sends them into the woods to reverse the spell put upon them.

INTERVIEW: Alice Fearn, currently starring as Elphaba in WICKED at the Apollo Victoria Theatre

Alice is currently playing the lead role of Elphaba in the London production of WICKED, after having previously been the standby for the role. The Woman in White (Palace), Les Misérables (Queen’s), Annie Get Your Gun (Young Vic); ‘Rapunzel’ in Into the Woods (Regent’s Park), ‘Gingy’ in Shrek The Musical (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), ‘Renee’ in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy) and ‘Nancy’ in Oliver! (Watermill Theatre, Newbury). She took time out of her greenifying to have a little chat with us.

You were previously the Standby for Elphaba in the London production of Wicked, when did you find out you’d be taking over as the lead?

Well I’d been auditioning for quite a few years for the show, when I’d be able or free to do so I’d be auditioning for it. Weirdly actually, this last time I auditioned, when I got the standby, I said that was my last time I was doing it. I think that might have been my fifth time auditioning, I remember calling my mum and saying “this is the last time now, I can’t be put through the wringer if I’m not going to get this.” I thought this was my last time and if I get it great, if I don’t then I can move on. And thankfully I got it, then obviously a year later I got the upgrade to play the lead full time. I think I was in the kitchen with my fiancée, Gavin, who was cooking lunch and my agent called me and I knew it would be about this because I’d auditioned to play the lead again so when I was the standby I had to go back and do all the stuff again so I knew I was waiting for a phone call with a yes or a no. My agent had me on loud speaker so I did think it was something quite important because the whole office could hear, and he said I got the job and I was so shocked and surprised I think I threw the phone across the room towards Gavin and he was saying “What?! What?!” and I just said they’ve given me the part. And immediately we got a bottle of champagne out of the fridge and started pouring it because it was something I wanted for so long. So, it was a pretty good day that day!

10 reasons why you should see INTO THE WOODS

Here at Pocket, we got invited to a screening of INTO THE WOODS and we were spellbound at how incredible the film was. So we've put together a list of 10 reasons at to why you should go (as if you needed convincing!).

1. Meryl Streep has a HELL of a belt on her!

2. James Cordon and Emily Blunt are perfect casting

INTO THE WOODS cast announced for run at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favourite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score (soon to be a Disney film) are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to attend the King's Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

All Star Productions to stage INTO THE WOODS

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favourite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score (soon to be a Disney film) are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to attend the King's Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

Leading the Creative Team is Tim McArthur (Director and Musical Staging) with Aaron Clingham (Musical Director and Orchestrations), who are the successful team behind last years Days of Hope, 2012's She Loves Me (4 Offie Nominations) and 2010's Follies.