Into the Woods Jr

Stephen Sondheim’s music is not the easiest to perform, the adults find it difficult so I
wondered how the youngsters would cope, they coped remarkably well, although this
Junior version was only about and hour and a quarter long. This is a large stage to fill
with no proscenium arch so the youngsters were straight into acting mode as they came
out of the wings. There was a large ‘castle’ across the rear of the stage which, using the
stairs, gave different levels as well as having Rapunzel’s tower centre, all this space was
used effectively, even seeing Rapunzel in her tower window.

There were two performances of this show, one at 1pm and the second at 5.30pm, I had
been invited to the 1pm performance.

Broadly based on some of the Brother’s Grimm stories we initially meet three narrators
Elliott, Isaac and Georgia who appear throughout the show with a very graceful Elliott,
obviously a dancer, their dialogue throughout was clear and well enunciated, great head
dresses. The Baker and his wife, a good pairing of Elizabeth and Annabel whom we
follow as they search for the cow as white as milk, a red cloak, gold hair and a golden
shoe, giving us well drawn characters. Zachary gave us a great Jack and Freya F a
delightful Milky White these two were great together, I loved her dying and the
costume, most effective and clever. There was some strong singing from Layla-Eve as
Little Red Riding Hood, a very confident performance and a lovely performance from
Hannah as Cinderella slipping from her rags to a beautiful white ballgown. Jack’s Mother
was nicely played by Lyssa giving a competent portrayal of a frustrated Mother. This
opening line-up was completed by Cinderella’s Stepmother, Sisters, Mother and Father
played respectively by Maddy, Isla, Jemima, Bella and Lizzy. These actors partook in
around nine different vocal cameos in this big set piece opening, all competently sung
and performed with the entire ensemble from the youngest to the oldest coming on and
filling the stage. With their colourful costumes they created a very good Wood filling the
stage. Into this we also had the Witch competently performed by Izzy, completely
looking and sounding the part.

We had some nice cameos with Rapunzel played by Amelia letting her hair down from
her room with a lovely voice ringing out, entrancing both her Prince and Cinderella’s
Prince, played respectively by Rossella and Murray a clever touch with their hobby
horses, Horace played their Steward. We also had Florence as the Wolf, Freya T as
Granny and Joseph as the Mysterious Man.

This was a nicely performed show, the choreography, especially for the woodland scenes
were most effective with groups moving unblock and individually, all the youngsters
seemed to know where they should be and what they should be doing, this isn’t easy
with a large number of young children, but it gives them early stage experience, even if
one very young man was suddenly more interested in the audience than moving to where
he should be.

There were good colourful costumes throughout, the numerous tree costumes must have
taken ages to make, all the Principals had great costumes, as previously mentioned, a
great cow costume. The young princes and the ugly sisters were nicely dressed, a great
wolf costume and well-dressed witch also with good Make up, Rapunzel had a great
length of hair, better than an adult Rapunzel I saw! There were well made props, the
bakers shop stocked with bread, a bean stalk that grew, Grandma’s bed that the wolf
was in.

I suspect that director Caroline was pleased that there were no sound issues this year,
the stage was nicely lit and the entrances and entrances both from the wings, the
staircases of the castle and through the castle entrance were smooth and not cramped.

I enjoyed this well performed show, thank you.

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