BWW Reviews: INTO THE WOODS at Seattle Musical Theatre

Seattle Musical Theatre is currently presenting the Stephen Sondheim classic exploration of fairy tales and getting what you wish for with "Into the Woods".  And while not always the most polished or proficient production I've seen, this one definitely has a ton of heart.

Combining a multitude of bedtime stories into one world, we explore what happens when you get everything you want.  But are you satisfied then?  There's the Baker and his wife (Vincent J. Orduna and Britt Boyd) who only want a child; Jack and his Mother (Colin Madison and Patricia Haines-Ainsworth) who just need to sell the cow so they can eat; Cinderella (Ashley Coates) who just wants to go to the festival; The Witch (Dallas Milholland) who wants the curse on her reversed and Little Red Riding Hood (Julie Drummond) who just wants some more sweets ... oh and to visit Granny.  We all know the stories but what happens when they are interwoven into one journey?  And what happens after happily ever after?  Well you get the mother of all bedtime stories all told to us by the Narrator (J. Stegar Thompson) who just wants to tell us the tale.

Yes, the show has been done to death for years.  Of course it has, not only is it one of Sondheim's best works but also it one of his most accessible.  But no matter how many times I see it I always find something to enjoy.  Director Victoria Webb has done a wonderful job with a limited space and the use of projections to indicate several locations.  I know, I'm not always the biggest proponent of using projections but that's only when they distract from the show itself.  Not so much here as the projections, for the most part, only enhance.  Webb has definitely instilled the heart of the show into her cast making sure all of the characters are in the show together rather than playing their own tales (a problem I see a lot with this show).  I only wish she had been able to instill a bit more confidence and intention in them as some characters seemed a little undercooked.  But that could also come with time and settling into the roles along with fixing some of the pacing issues.

But even as the show went on most of the cast managed to engage more and more and there were some definite gems in the cast.  Thompson is lovely in his dual role as Narrator and Mysterious Man.  I loved his interaction with the storybook characters although I wish they had responded to that more.  Madison is adorable as the dreamy eyed Jack.  Milholland has the voice to handle this difficult role (as any Sondheim role is) but I lacked a bit of menace and presence from her.  Orduna has the voice and the acting chops for the Baker but also needs to settle into the role a bit more (again, I'm sure it will come with time).  But there were four performers who truly stood out and had their characters and intentions for all to see.  Boyd nails the attitude of the wayward Baker's wife.  Coates is gorgeous as the ever searching Cinderella.  Drummond takes Red Riding Hood and runs away with the role with her stunning voice and hilarious comic side glances.  And Josh Ryder as Cinderella's Prince and as the Wolf made both parts unique and fun. 

So all in all a fun show with some wonderful performers but needing just a little more time to nail things down.  Seattle Musical Theatre tends to have the same issue with most shows I see there.  They're just not quite fully baked by opening.  The moral of our tale here, add one more week to your usual rehearsal schedule and you should have it.

"Into the Woods" from Seattle Musical Theatre performs at the Magnuson Park Community Center Building through May 21^st.  For tickets or information contact the SMT box office at 206-363-2809 or visit them online at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org.

Photo credit: Lee Damon

 

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