[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Wisteria Theater’s Into the Woods, written by Stephen Sondheim, and running throughSeptember 28.
Into the Woods has to be one of the most poetic and poignant musicals of Sondheim’s career. It seems at first to be just beautiful fun. Gorgeous songs, spiralling storylines, layer upon layer of fairytales connected by a sweet couple yearning for a child. However, the layers become veils and the spirals become twisted, and the sweet couple transforms into complicated heroic characters. The songs, and there are thankfully many of them, draw us into this dark and glittering world Sondheim creates, as they fill us with unforgettable moments and gorgeous and indelible songs.
In short, it is spectacular and profoundly moving, while still remaining firmly in the grips of the delightful darkness of the true fairytale. All this masterful magic could be a disaster in the wrong hands, though. Without brilliant actors with wonderful voices and the kind of deep commitment to this strange and beguiling blending of stories demanded by this incredible musical.
So that brings me to Wisteria Theater’s production, with a cast any production would honestly envy. They have very cleverly put their own twist on the show, with the addition of a new character, a child in her bedroom, playing with her toys, inventing and creating just as children do.
Honestly, I wasn’t certain this would work at all at first. But it really, really does. In fact, I rather think it elevated it a little. It certainly gives it a fresh look, especially when the little girl gets mad and throws the dolls around!
But apart from this saucy adaptation, the rest of the Wisteria Theater’s version is faithful to the original. The cast is truly incredible. Their voices are impeccable and their characters perfection!
This is a long musical and it is song after song after song. It always amazes me how anyone can sustain the energy required to perform Into the Woods. Perhaps it is because it is such a treasure and not frequently performed that any actor would be thankful to be a part of it, and that alone would infuse them with the stamina needed! But then, that is musical theatre, isn’t it! A marathon from start to finish whose participants make it look impossibly easy…
I really cannot recommend Into the Woods at the Wisteria Theater highly enough. Everyone was brilliant, every song heartbreaking, every character real and genuine.
This may be a fairytale, but these people are you and me and everyone we know. They love and hurt and confuse just as we all do. I think that was part of Sondheim’s point. Even in a fairytale, with giants and witches and wolves, there is humanity and room for empathy and forgiveness. And hope…what we all need more than ever. Anything can happen in the woods.
There is a lot of tech in this production, videos and animation, millions of sound cues and impossible changes. I was so impressed that I thanked the engineer on my way out. Again, it all could have so easily gone horribly wrong, but it was incredibly and perfectly executed. Nothing was off. Not one note of one song or one light or one video or one hair of one head. Absolutely fantastic.
This was my first visit to The Wisteria Theater, tucked away in a very nice industrial estate by the Burbank Airport. It might seem like an odd place for a theatre, but there a quite a few setups like this all around the city, and it gives you a certain type of extended experience. It’s more magical in a way, more of an adventure. And when you get through the doors and into the theatre you are utterly transported. I loved it!
Into the Woods runs through September 28 and it is a delight! Go and see this play!!!! They have just finished their run of Xanadu…so sad I missed that one!
This theatre company has big dreams and that’s what we all need!!
Where:
Wisteria Theater
7061 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605
When:
August 29 – September 28
Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm
Tickets:
https://www.wisteriatheater.com/upcomingshows
****
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