Neil Motta (Cinderella’s Prince) and Kyle Ferreira (Rapunzel’s Prince) deliver an emotional rendition of “Agony” from “Into the Woods” at the Contemporary Theater Company.
Photo Courtesy: Perry Barkett
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — There are few theatrical lifts heavier than Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods.” Between its multifaceted theme, rapid-fire dialogue and music, and the necessity of both perfect pitch and comedic timing, this is one of the most challenging musicals to pull off on any stage.
It is fair to say that the Contemporary Theater Company not only understood this assignment but it also, as usual, achieved exemplary results with few raw materials beyond its human capital.
Contemporary Theater Company is known for its intimate size, pushing the company to develop out-of-the-box methods to deliver shows that would ordinarily take place on a larger stage. Through creative set design, inventive props, and the ingenuity of its cast, crew, and director, the classic and cautionary tale sprang to life in the purest way.
Into the Woods began as a workshop at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre in December 1986. It opened on Broadway on Nov. 5, 1987, and ran for 765 performances, picking up three Tony Awards, including Best Score and Best Book.
The show combines several Grimm’s fairy tales and ties them together through an original couple, a Baker and his Wife, on a quest to lift a curse on their family. The show explores the pitfalls of having wishes granted, the consequences of bad choices, and a reminder that parents are being watched by their children at all times.
We’ve seen this show in larger venues, with full orchestra pits cranking out the show’s score. We’ve seen the characters much farther away than an arm’s length apart on stages, with roving spotlights and special effects. But what the CTC proves, time and again, is that once you boil it all down, it’s the actors who carry the show.
The theater welcomed several newcomers and returning actors for “Into the Woods,” imparting revitalized energy to its audience. Familiar CTC faces included Susie Chakmakian, who played the Narrator, Ron Giles, who played the Mysterious Man/Cinderella’s Father, and Paula Glen, the show’s Musical Director.