A new production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" has opened in Cape Town's Theatre on the Bay, directed by Sylvaine Strike and featuring a cast of 25 students from Lamta, a musical theatre academy in Camps Bay. The musical, first performed in 1986 and made into a movie in 2014, is a reimagining of various intertwined fairy tales. The show promises to be a wild ride, with a Giant stomping on villagers, a Wolf gobbling down a rambunctious Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack ascending a beanstalk.
The production boasts an impressive set, with actors holding blackened planks to bring the show's ominously dark and perilous woods to life. The cast also features a range of fairy tale familiars, including cows, magic beans, an anthropomorphised magical harp, and a sparkly slipper that will lead the Prince to Cinderella's foot. The show's creative team, including James Lapine's revisionist story, has revived the original spirit of fairy tales and characters attributed to the Brothers Grimm, reuniting them with their darker, pre-Disney underbelly.
The cast of 25 students has risen to the challenge of bringing the complex and often dark story to life. Under Strike's direction, they have mastered the art of presence, making sure that whether they are playing a tree or becoming a funky chicken, they are always performing. The young actors have also brought a rich repository of pitch-black ironies, winking innuendo, and playful instincts to the show, making it a magnificently deranged production with a lot going on.
One of the standout performances comes from Mia Dippenaar as the Baker's Wife, who brings emotional depth to the role. She is not only a gifted singer but also gives everything of herself to the character, who is desperate for a child and underappreciated by her husband. The role of the Baker is shared between Benjamin Stannard and Matt Blerk, both of whom bring a charmingly human touch to the character.
The show's musical numbers are also noteworthy, with the cast bringing Sondheim's lyrics to life with natural talent and abandon. Musical director Amy Campbell has painstakingly rehearsed the cast, and it shows in their performances. The choreography, courtesy of Naoline Quinzin, is perfectly energising, and Marcel Meyer's simplified costumes help the production achieve just the right balance between the sublime and the ridiculous.
The cast's characterisations are also worthy of note, with Kristin Murison's Little Red Riding Hood a precocious tomboy in a perpetually foul mood, and Jude Bunyan's Wolf bringing a charming and hilarious performance to the role. Darling Fransman brings a deliciously offbeat malevolence to her interpretation of the Witch, a role she alternates with Xivono Olive.
Overall, the production is a joy to watch, with a talented cast, creative staging, and a richly textured story. Strike has risen to the challenge of wrangling this monster of a show into a truly distinctive experience, one that delivers the audience deep into the heart and soul of "Once Upon A Time". The show is a must-see for fans of Sondheim and fairy tales alike.
Key points
- The production features a cast of 25 students from Lamta, a musical theatre academy in Camps Bay.
- The show's creative team has revived the original spirit of fairy tales and characters attributed to the Brothers Grimm.
- The cast brings Sondheim's lyrics to life with natural talent and abandon.
