With the greenery of Forest Park surrounding The Muny on all sides, it’s hard to believe that Into the Woods doesn’t make an annual appearance in the season lineup.
While this week marks the first time that the Sondheim favorite has come to The Muny stage, it is certainly not the last. Into the Woods attracts audience members of all ages, and on opening night, nearly every seat was filled.
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The show is a colorful collision of classic fairy tales, set to the tune of some of Sondheim’s best-known songs. Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of beanstalk fame), two handsome princes, and a baker and his wife enter the woods, each on separate quests—but, when a menacing giant threatens the safety of the entire kingdom, the characters must put their respective plotlines aside and come together to stop her. While the characters may be children’s favorites, the overarching topics addressed in Into the Woods—parenthood, morality, self-interest—will especially touch the adults in the audience.
The 18-person cast does, on the whole, present a strong production. While the show’s lines and lyrics are complex and rapid, the actors make the tricky syncopation seem easy. Strong female voices, which have been noticeably rare this season, have finally arrived in Elena Shaddow (Cinderella), Samantha Massell (Rapunzel), and of course, The Muny’s Tony-award winning Witch, Heather Headley. From the moment that Headley begins singing “Our Little World,” it is easy to see why her performance has been so highly anticipated.
On the spectrum of Into the Woods Witches, Headley’s lies much closer to the quiet, menacing, Meryl Streep version from the recent Disney movie than Bernadette Peters’ crazed, cackling Witch from the original Broadway production. The challenge of projecting a more reserved Witch to such a large theater did result in the character falling flat a few times—but, by toning down the typical theatrical cackles and ostentatious hand gestures, Headley allowed the witch’s frustration and sadness to take a front seat, lending an interesting depth to the character. Shaddow and Sara Kapner (Little Red Riding Hood) also give standout performances, the former by creating a genuinely benevolent Cinderella, and the latter by making the show’s sassiest character actually lovable.
Many of the men, on the other hand, can’t quite keep up with their leading ladies. Andrew Samonsky (Cinderella’s Prince) and Ryan Silverman (Rapunzel’s Prince), are, as Cinderella says, “very nice” princes, but they deliver a strangely timid version of “Agony,” one of Into the Woods’ most beloved comic highlights. Jason Gotay (Jack) sings “Giants in the Sky” well, but his performance lacks the naïve wonderment that rests at the heart of Jack’s character.
Rob McClure, however, is nearly flawless as the Baker, with a performance reminiscent of the original Baker, Chip Zein. And, of course, Muny favorite Ken Page doesn’t disappoint either—he narrates the show like an affectionate grandfather reading a fairy tale to his 8,000 grandchildren.
Finally, Michael Schweikardt’s set design is one of Into the Woods’ most enchanting elements. The set is centered around a tiered platform adorned with elegant, twisting branches, which brings eye-catching levels to the stage. Matthew Young’s video design is equally beautiful, featuring simple trees that shift directions to map the characters’ journey through the woods.
There is probably no better place for Into the Woods than Forest Park, and no better cast than some of our very own Muny veterans. Come for the iconic music, stay for the beautiful scenery, and revel in your own “moments in the woods.”
See Into the Woods at The Muny (#1 Theatre in Forest Park) from July 21-27. Tickets are free-$87, and can be purchased at The Muny box office or online.
