In the interest of ethical journalism and critical objectivity, certain disclosures must be made prior to writing this review of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, “Into the Woods,” currently playing through March 19 at Lamb’s Players Theatre.
When the musical was developed in its world premiere at the Old Globe nearly 20 years ago, I was employed at the Globe. Because of the show’s infectious nature and content, I attended almost every performance, standing in the balcony. In my capacity as publications and national media director (a post from which I retired in 1995), I attended the 1987 Broadway premiere. I love “Into the Woods.” It is musically complex, witty and profound, and it continues to speak to individual and collective human frailties and foibles.
Becky Biegelsen, currently the Globe’s director of public relations, plays the major role of the Baker’s Wife in the Lamb’s production. In advance of seeing the show, I feared this might pose an ethical dilemma, too. Hers is not a role that can be ignored. What if I did not like her performance?
Not to worry. With her ultra-expressive face, her superb reactions and her warm singing, Biegelsen’s performance is superb. Her Baker’s Wife is the heart and soul of the production.
Without exception, the 18 additional company members are wondrous in director Robert Smyth’s knowing and textured production. The difficult score is musically excellent thanks to conductor/music director G. Scott Lacy and a band of musicians hidden in the storybook foliage of Mike Buckley’s set, effectively lighted by Nate Parde.
Sondheim writes lickety-split, rhyming lyrics and harmonically complex music. Lamb’s production makes it look easy. Sound designer Greg Campbell achieves an excellent balance that enhances the singers’ diction but does not overwhelm listeners’ ears.
It’s a real joy to hear Season Duffy sing all of Little Red Ridinghood’s intervals correctly. She’s comically adept as well and has just the right amount of sass for the little girl that goes to Grandmother’s house and encounters the “scary but exciting” Wolf (Jason Heil, who also portrays Cinderella’s Prince). As Cinderella’s insincere and round-heeled Prince, Heil captures the arrogance of one who was raised to be charming but not necessarily nice. His “Agony” duet with Rapunzel’s Prince (David S Humphrey) is a highlight of the production.
Rapunzel is played with ditzy sincerity and a stratospheric series of “ah’s” that incorporate Sondheim’s major motif, an interval sequence or tune, if you will, that stays in one’s head far after the show ends.
Lovely of voice and person, Jennifer Shelton is a darling Cinderella. Jack of Beanstalk fame is portrayed by charmingly naïve Spencer Moses, got up in the dearest skinny little boy costume by designer Jeanne Reith, whose rags, ranging from homespun to regal, are clever and suitable.
As readers unfamiliar with the show have gathered by now, Lapine’s book intertwines several fairy tales (grim, Grimm, gruesome and Grand Guignol) and the made-up tale of the Baker (Ryan Drummond) and his Wife, who go into the woods to obtain items needed to break the spell of infertility cast upon them by the Witch (a marvelous and vocally rich performance by Deborah Gilmour Smyth). The curse was cast long ago when the Baker’s Father (Doren Elias) stole greens and magical beans from the Witch’s garden. Elias narrates the tale and also portrays the Mysterious Man that turns out to be the Baker’s absent father. Elias’ sonorous duet with Drummond is one of the production’s more profound and touching moments.
Such fables are always about us, none more so than “Into the Woods,” which is rife with such unforgettable songs as “Children Will Listen” and “No One Is Alone.”
When there are “great big, terrible giants in the sky,” and apocalypse seems imminent, we all must take an inward journey that is not always comfortable or comforting. This Lamb’s production makes an incomparable trip into the woods and out again. Make certain not to miss it.
“Into the Woods” continues through March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, at Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. Tickets are $22 to $44 with discounts for groups, seniors, students and active-duty military. For tickets and information visit www.lambsplayers.org or call (619) 437-0600.