Into the Woods a Resounding Success
The Stag Theatre Company’s choice of Into the Woods for their autumn production proved a good one. James Lapine’s clever plot interweaving various fairy tales always pleases and the talented cast were more than equal to the complex and varying rhythms of Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics which they successfully performed with humour and pathos.
The beginning goes to fairyland plan, the baker and his wife break the witch’s curse, Jack gets his beanstalk and Cinderella finds her prince. But the actions of the first act become the consequences of the second, conveying a strong moral message about adults’ responsibility for children.
Linda Hart’s costumes and Geoff Daniels’ and Malcolm Pugh’s set were first-rate. Alexandra Grist, a stunning witch, Jamie Thomas, Jo Phypers, Nichola Ross and Antony Eglinton gave stand-out performances, with Mary Whiting an engagingly sassy Red Riding Hood and Tony McEwen in great voice as the wolf /Cinderella’s prince. Nice touches included the portrayals of Anna Wood, Natalia Wigley and Jo Hay as Cinderella’s step-relations and Alistair Hart’s creation of the cow
One or two quibbles: occasionally the otherwise excellent musicians drowned out the weaker voices. And why the decision to use a variety of sometimes shaky accents? However, overall the production was entertaining and absorbing. Congratulations to Director, Keith Neville, Musical Director, Alistair Cameron and everyone involved in a truly “ensemble” show.
C E Bennet
The beginning goes to fairyland plan, the baker and his wife break the witch’s curse, Jack gets his beanstalk and Cinderella finds her prince. But the actions of the first act become the consequences of the second, conveying a strong moral message about adults’ responsibility for children.
Linda Hart’s costumes and Geoff Daniels’ and Malcolm Pugh’s set were first-rate. Alexandra Grist, a stunning witch, Jamie Thomas, Jo Phypers, Nichola Ross and Antony Eglinton gave stand-out performances, with Mary Whiting an engagingly sassy Red Riding Hood and Tony McEwen in great voice as the wolf /Cinderella’s prince. Nice touches included the portrayals of Anna Wood, Natalia Wigley and Jo Hay as Cinderella’s step-relations and Alistair Hart’s creation of the cow
One or two quibbles: occasionally the otherwise excellent musicians drowned out the weaker voices. And why the decision to use a variety of sometimes shaky accents? However, overall the production was entertaining and absorbing. Congratulations to Director, Keith Neville, Musical Director, Alistair Cameron and everyone involved in a truly “ensemble” show.
C E Bennet