[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Into the Woods, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, directed by Mary Jo DuPrey along with musical director Anthony Zediker.
Who doesn’t love Steven Sondheim and James Lapine? And Into the Woods is a spectacular crowd pleaser of a show, warmly poetic and heartbreaking fable-esque. So it was with a not small amount of glee and some slight trepidation that I took the drive to Hollywood, to the lovely Greenway theatre to see this production. Whatever fears I may have had that this was a very big show for a small theatre, however, were instantly dismissed a few bars into the first number. What a brilliant and beautiful cast they have been clever enough to assemble. And how they sung their hearts out from the very beginning to the sweetly poignant end.
The gorgeous and thoughtful set takes up every inch of this small yet perfectly formed theatre. The actors wind their way through the woods and the audience as they tell this weirdly wonderful melding of half a dozen or more fairytales. All revolving around a baker and his wife and their longing for a baby. The costumes are also brilliant and help these incredibly good actors to tell their own individual stories, making up this magnificent, complicated and wonderfully layered story which is, above all else, about love. And the singing, did I mention that? I was just beaming throughout and nudging my husband repeatedly at every delightful turn of phrase, or moving moment. And there were many!
To single any one performance out would be utterly impossible, every single actor was beyond brilliant. How incredibly lucky we are to have such phenomenal talent in Los Angeles. Truly. This cast is West End good. This is a tough show to do. The songs are enormous, the story intense, the characters all on their own unique journeys while being entwined with each others in compelling meaningful ways. It’s wildly entertaining of course, but also nuanced and thoughtful and deeply moving. This production for me hit every mark. The performances were outstanding, the artistry profound and the energy uplifting and soulful. What an amazing cast! What a gorgeous version of a timeless masterpiece. And what a wonderful opportunity to see such a treasure of a show in a beautiful neighborhood theatre in L.A.
I highly recommend Into the Woods at the Greenway Court Theatre, don’t miss this brilliant production! I think it’s absolutely one of the best shows I’ve seen this year!
Where:
The Greenway Theatre
544 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
When:
July 19 -August 11
Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 6:30PM
Tickets:
https://www.ticketsource.us/greenway-court-theatre/e-rlmzax
The Cast
The cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Aaron Camitses, Peyton Crim* (National Tour: The Play That Goes Wrong; Paper Mill Playhouse: Mary Poppins), Lisa Dyson, Osher Fine, Ian Gibson, Zachary Harris, Timothy Hearl, Emily Jenda* (Broadway: The Book of Mormon; National Tour: Hamilton), Kailyn Leilani, Emma Rose Lutsky, Christian McCleary, Roni Paige, Brandon Schumann, Clare Snodgrass, Trance Thompson* (Off-Broadway: Naked Boys Singing!; Regional: Assassins), Stephen L. Wilson, and Sarah Wolter* (Regional: The Sound of Music, Young Frankenstein).
The Team
Scenic design is by Ian Geatz, lighting and sound design are by Matt Richter, costume design is by three-time Ovation Award-winner Michael Mullen, and properties designer is Jenine MacDonald. Assistant music director is Vicente Ditto, and stage manager is Ruthie Geronimo. The casting director is Tal Fox.