"Into the Woods" - by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim - Theatre at the Mount (Gardner, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "INTO THE WOODS" by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Laura Cavanaugh)
By Emily D. Baldwin
Special METRMAG Correspondent Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment."
- ("The Baker's Wife") / Stephen Sondheim
Theatre at the Mount
Presents Stephen Sondheim's
"INTO THE WOODS"
Book by James Lapine
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by David Allen Prescott
Music Director and Orchestra Conductor J. Senja Morgan
Producing Director Gail Steele
Cast Includes: Chris Cenotti as “The Narrator,” Ben Cohn as “The Wolf/The Steward,” Doug Dame as “The Baker,” Chelsea Daniels as “Cinderella,” Autumn DeSisto as “Cinderella’s Stepmother,” Alyson Foisy as “Little Red Riding Hood,” Melissa Gates as “The Baker’s Wife,” Ken Golner as “Cinderella’s Father/Mysterious Man,” Deonne Johnson as “Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/The Giant,” James Lamoureux as “Rapunzel’s Prince,” Taylor Lawton as “Cinderella’s Prince,” Marina Matuzek as “Jack’s Mother,” Julia Overhiser as “Rapunzel,” Christina Pierro-Biggins as “The Witch,” Dawn Ross as “Florinda,” Rain Smallcomb as “Jack,” Libbey Stearns as “Lucinda,” Ruby Tower-Hughes as “Snow White,” Jillian Whitney as “Sleeping Beauty.”
Additional Creative Team:
Set Design - David Allen Prescott; Technical Director - Joshua Patino; Stage Manager - Annie Cormier; Costumer* - Maryann Allen; Wig Stylist - Jeanne Reilly; Lighting Design - Terrie Hyde and Sam Gagnon; Sound Engineer - Sean Kyle; Box Office Manager - Paul Caouette; Graphic Design - Michelle Carpenter; Lobby Posters - Lori Adams; Construction Crew - Avery Crowley, Marissa Crowley, Maddisyn David, Lindsey Desmarais, Avery Sorenson, Samuel Nieves, Jason Garrett; Running Crew - Josie Daisy, Benjamin Heffner, Mike Shear, Connor Shear, Jovan Tremblay, Peter Russo.
*Costumes provided by Emerald City Theatrical Costumes
Performances:
February 21, 2025 through March 2, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Mount Wachusett Community College, 44 Green Street, Room 182, Gardner, MA.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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Theatre at the Mount (TATM) of Gardner brings to life the musical convergence of Brothers Grimm fictional characters with "INTO THE WOODS" in Gardner.
Along with its fine cast, the TATM creative team deserves tremendous high praise for the successful execution of many of the technical elements that comes along with any undertaking of "INTO THE WOODS."
Some of these elements include a complex but gorgeous set design, impressive lighting design, elegant costuming and a secret trap door.
The book, written by James Lapine, helps guide the audience through one of the most notable scores by the late Stephen Sondheim.
The duo also collaborated on the libretto for their much beloved, "Sunday in the Park with George."
In a rare joint interview on PBS years ago, both Sondheim and Lapine discussed the success of their writing relationship.
Both conveyed how they were on “a similar path” where, creatively, they knew the direction of where they wanted the journey of their characters to take them.
Lapine is a renowned librettist and has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times: for “Falsettos,” “Passion” (another Sondheim collaboration) and, of course, for "INTO THE WOODS."
Winning a Tony Award for Best Score in 1988, "INTO THE WOODS" is best known for its captivating underlying theme of:
While we may not get the happy endings we feel exist "as written" for each of us, we WILL get an ending and, God willing, it will be the one we deserve.
The Theatre at the Mount production of "INTO THE WOODS" is directed by David Allen Prescott with musical direction and live orchestra conducted by J. Senja Morgan.
Under the direction of Prescott, an emphasis was placed on comedy during some of the more sobering moments in the libretto, which made the staging of the TATM production work well with an overall enthusiasm conveyed by the entire cast.
The ensemble faithfully executes one of Sondheim’s most popular scores (“popular” at least among the average theater going public, not necessarily Sondheim aficionados).
In concurrence with Sondheim’s lyrics, the plot written by James Lapine (based on various Grimm’s fairy tales) for "INTO THE WOODS" is intricate with many plotlines played in parallel at first then intersecting in one spot.
So many plots unfold that, just as you think the musical is coming to a close with a happy ending, it doesn't, then it looks like it might, then it doesn't, then it happens again.
As the musical begins (with an almost obligatory "Once Upon a Time"), we are guided by a Narrator (Chris Cenotti) who introduces us to all the fabled characters with whom we are about to become re-acquainted, yet not in the way we might recall them from our youth.
(Photo: Doug Dame as “The Baker” with Melissa Gates as “The Baker’s Wife” and Christina Pierro-Biggins as “The Witch” in a scene from the musical "INTO THE WOODS" by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Laura Cavanaugh)
As all the fabled stories converge and intertwine, as all the sub-plots become entangled (much like Rapunzel's hair), the characters seek their fairy tale endings...but at what cost?
Yes - What happens after “Happily Ever After?"
The “rogues gallery” of Grimm stable of characters most focused upon for “"INTO THE WOODS" include:
Cinderella (Chelsea Daniels), Rapunzel (Julia Overhiser), Jack (Rain Smallcomb) and his Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood (Alyson Foisy).
The main plot for "INTO THE WOODS" (which will ultimately allow for the intersection of stories involving the above characters) concerns a Baker (Doug Dame) and his wife (Melissa Gates) longing for a child but discovering they are incapable of conceiving from a curse cast upon them by an evil Witch (Tina Pierro-Biggins).
Given one of the best story arcs in "INTO THE WOODS" Dame and Gates as the Baker and his Wife excel.
There is even an amusing handshake the duo does toward the end of the number “It Takes Two” that playfully punctuates the love shared in their relationship.
Conversely, Dame takes on the more somber “No More” (featuring Ken Golner as “The Mysterious Man”) punctuating emotional heartbreak.
Gates interacts well with all the characters featured in scenes as the duo ventures through (okay, “into”) the woods in order to find a way of breaking the Witch’s curse.
The Witch holds young Rapunzel (Julia Overhiser) captive in a tall castle room.
While she actually loves Rapunzel as a daughter, the Witch keeps the kidnapped girl locked away until another handsome Prince (James Lamoureux) falls in love with Rapunzel and attempts to rescue her.
Lamoureux is both hilarious and charismatic as Rapunzel’s Prince.
(Photo: James Lamoureux as “Rapunzel’s Prince” with Taylor Lawton as “Cinderella’s Prince” in a scene from the musical "INTO THE WOODS" by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Laura Cavanaugh)
In the role of the Witch, Pierro-Biggins provides one of the production’s standout performances, with both a powerful interpretation of the character propelled by a dynamic voice.
Given the above, more genuine affection would have been nice to witness by the Witch for Overhiser’s Rapunzel (a character that has more “entangled” miseries than one could run a comb through).
However, like one or two other plot points, in the end the Rapunzel character is seriously underdeveloped, leaving mysteries for us to solve by the conclusion of the story (for example: Whatever happened to young Rapunzel's' twins? They must have been at least toddlers by the time Act Two begins - he rhymed).
The above does not fall like Rapunzel’s hair on Overhiser’s shoulders.
It was simply a choice made by Lapine and Sondheim who possibly considered the subplot not really requiring a resolution and might, instead, reduce the impact of the main stories being told.
Another choice made by Lapine and Sondheim was to reduce the focus on Cinderella (Daniels) wishing to attend a festival being held by the King in honor of his handsome, womanizing son, the Prince (Taylor Lawton).
Daniels has a pleasing voice, well-suited for the "footwear-challenged" Cinderella, who comes across as both kind with a calm aura about her.
Lawton’s performance as Prince Charming is nuanced, finding the sincere moments while providing an interpretation of the "monogamy-challenged" Prince as he confesses to his brother, Rapunzel's Prince, when Lamoureux and Lawton duet in the smarmy but amusing, "Agony."
The Baker encounters Little Red Riding Hood (Foisy) rescuing her from the evil, manipulative Wolf (Ben Cohn).
Foisy was hysterical as the furiously feisty young "Red," accentuating childlike behavior.
As the Wolf, Ben Cohn has some hilarious moments accentuated by some “Fosse-like” movements.
We also meet Jack (Rain Smallcomb) who wishes his cow, "Milky White" would give milk.
Like Foisy as Riding Hood, Smallcomb as Jack is convincing, especially in portraying Jack’s naïveté in a comical way yet also showing reactions one might see in an actual child.
Other supporting character highlights arrive in the form of Cinderella’s “step-family” providing comedic relief during some of the show’s more intense and serious moments.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "INTO THE WOODS" by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through March 2, 2025. Photo Credit: Laura Cavanaugh)
In regards to the "INTO THE WOODS" set, the incorporation of a working clock is both elegant and impressive.
While the production has many well-chosen and expertly executed lighting effects, occasionally, the set is so far forward that sightline issues and crowding moments on stage emerge as a result.
Other minor issues include the Witch’s transformation which came across as a bit sluggish with her face being slightly obscured by her wig as a result during the February 21st performance.
The above indicated issues are relatively minor considering the outstanding cast and creative team involved in this production.
It is strongly recommended that everyone stay for the ending which has been staged in a highly inventive and entertaining way.
"INTO THE WOODS," continues at the Theatre at the Mount until March 2nd and it is thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm by the entire cast and crew that makes this a must-see show.
The 2025-2026 season for Theatre at the Mount will begin with the iconic musical "GREASE" beginning in August, 2025.
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by calling # 978-630-9388.
For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978-630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
BUY TICKETS
Approximately three hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, "INTO THE WOODS."
The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk.
When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse.
Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her grandmother, the Wolf who loves tasty little girls, the Witch’s daughter Rapunzel, and the Princes chasing after their loves.
By the end of Act I, everyone has gotten their wish and will seemingly live happily ever after.
But in Act II, when Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant, we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways.
The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but sacrifices must be made.
Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440
