Into The Woods

Report & Message to the Cast & Crew

What a great evening we had.  Sondheim is extremely difficult for adults to perform let alone less experienced people.  I extend my appreciation and respect to everyone involved in the complex production that is Into The Woods.  Sondheim never makes it easy to deliver any of his works.  The spirit of youth and vibrancy of performance truly captivated the audience - I am sure many of them had forgotten some of those fairy tales!

A fantastic amount of work has gone into the planning, build and use of the complex multi-level set.  How the cast remembered all the entrances & exits one can only imagine for many were frequently moved.  The stage crew had a very important role in managing the set so efficiently.  The costumes were so creative and it was a delight to meet the Costume Designer in person.  I particularly liked the vibrancy of the 'poppies'.

The community aspect of the production is central to the overall tone and ethos of productions at Perins and this was no exception.  The bringing together of not only other schools of differing ages but also including such able support from community adults for the choir and the orchestra really enhances the whole experience and certainly widens the audience base.

The cast were thoroughly committed to their tasks throughout the production as I said to them afterwards.  Their fantastic focus and intense involvement was palpable throughout.  The musical team must stand and take a bow for the incredible way they got this talented group to get their tongues around Sondheim's complex lyrics whilst accompanying them with such care.

I hope each and every one of you will continue to support your personal well being with involvement in activities such as this.  There is a wide world of amateur and professional theatre out there waiting for you to continue your artistic endeavours. Testament to this is the number of Perins Alumni who have returned to make their contribution.  All over Great Britain there are societies at universities and in local communities that offer the thrill of participating in a production such as Into The Woods. NODA supports such societies and also offers the opportunity to attend a Theatre Summer School - something to look forward to once you get to 18.

I wish you all well for the future and look forward to seeing you all again at the next production.

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