Recently, I had the privilege of seeing one of James Lapine’s most memorable book brought to life in a stage Play, "Into the Woods" performed vibrantly in an online show that was filmed professionally with seven cameras on the set of the Martin Beck Theater in front of an audience. At first glance, this performance space looked like an atmospheric forest that had creative set changes, but watching it on a computer screen you are still transformed to the enchanting forest of 'Into the Woods.'
Elaborate set and mesmerizing show
The elaborate set was eye-striking and had many things in its design that were awe-inspiring, for instance, there was a rig that lifted the witch off of the stage in one scene and a pivot that turned her on the stage.
The tower of Rapunzel that the witch had climbed up by her hair. Even the Juniper Tree that looked like it came alive by the tears of Marlinchen, not to mention the giant's torso that fell on to the stage toward the end of the show.
Inside the elaborate and mesmerizing set, an imaginative ensemble of actors plays. At the play’s start, "the musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from "Little Red Riding Hood", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Rapunzel", and "Cinderella", as well as several others. The musical is tied together by a story involving a childless baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, their interaction with a witch who has placed a curse on them, and their interaction with other storybook characters during their journey."
Once the play had finished, the play moved me to want to take a standing ovation from my chair at the curtain call for the cast and crew as I felt cinematic elevation.
Through various character strengths and virtues that were on display by each character. Like wisdom, knowledge, curiosity, creativity, perspective, perseverance, courage, bravery, zest, humanity, love, kindness, social intelligence, justice, teamwork, leadership, fairness, some temperance, forgiveness, transcendence, gratitude, hope, spirituality, and a ton of humor.
Full original Broadway cast reunited
Each actor is worth noting and standouts on their own, but with this play being a full Broadway cast; I won't do such. However, what I will say is that each actor and actress fully transformed into their character as they showed hard work, technique and good direction. Nevertheless, the actor and actresses stayed truthfully and emotionally connected to their characters.
As the audience, I saw none of this, but the fully realized three-dimensional character right in the truth of the moment. While the comedic timing of each was vibrant, and their acting chops were splendid as their singing was competent.
Associate director Alan Skog has put together a masterpiece of a show with smooth and creative scene changes, a clear vision, and a flair that is both attractive and distinctive. No actor pulls focus when they shouldn’t, and even the smallest of details has significance.
In addition, the lighting design of Richard Nelson and the costume design of Ann Hould-Ward enhance the show in their own ways. I can only describe the lighting as atmospheric, with this sense of ethereal mood playing its own distinct parts in the show.
The costumes are full of style to each character—and everything complements each other.
I encourage you to go see this production. At any time of year, few theaters might be putting on this show, but I guarantee you won’t find one quite like the Martin Beck Theater’s rendition that was put on in 1989 by a full and original Broadway cast that had reunited for only three performances for the taping of the musical in its entirety for the Season 10 premiere episode of PBS’s American Playhouse which first aired on March 15, 1991. If you want to take an adventure from the hustle and bustle into an enchanted forest through your computer screen, then press play to travel through cyberspace and support these talented players!
Or if you will be in the Tulsa area, 'Into the Woods' runs Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 1:30 pm through March 9th at John H. Williams Theatre, located at 10 E 2nd St., Tulsa, OK 74103. For tickets call (918) 596-7124 or visit the ticketmaster.com website to find a showing near you.
