Into the Woods

Synopsis

What happens in a fairytale if the story takes the wrong turn in the woods? The Brothers Grimm meet panto with a twist. A childless baker and his wife live under the spell of a witch. In order to lift the spell they must bring the witch a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold. On their quest they stumble across a world of familiar fairy tale characters creating confusion and chaos!

Our Review:

2 May 2006

Stephen Sondheim’s fairytale musical is a sharp warning to be careful what you wish for, you may just get it. And Sondheim fans are enjoying something of a feast in central England at present, with Assassins having recently finished its run in Sheffield, this current Derby production of Into the Woods, and the rarely-staged Pacific Overtures about to open at Leicester Haymarket.

Assassins won critical acclaim, and Leicester Haymarket director Paul Kerryson is a proven dab hand at staging Sondheim’s work. In Derby, the Playhouse has had hits in recent years with Sweeney Todd and Company. So does its latest Sondheim offering live up to expectation?

Director Karen Louise Hebden, who also helmed Company, offers no surprises or great insight into the work this time around - the overwhelming feeling throughout is simply a fresh sense of wonder at the talent of the writer. That’s not to say Derby...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

86.129.208.175) - 16 May 2006:

An excellent production featuring WestEnd performers. Highlight for me was Glyn Kerslake and Jody Crosier as the princes, 'Agony' was great. I doubt you could find a better Cinderella than Annalene Beechey in singing and acting. Although Red was perhaps a little old for the role, the mix of irritating smiles and feistiness worked well. Kim Criswell played down the wickedness of the witch and went more for a human interpretation, bringing out her feelings for Rapunzel more. Thus she wasn't a scary witch at all. I enjoyed this production more than the Donmar production of a few years ago. The Donmar production had more of a panto feel to it which I personally didn't like. But you can't go too far wrong with Sondheim and his brilliant lyrics!...

Read more and add your own review