{"id":6273,"date":"2013-06-06T11:20:08","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T18:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=6273"},"modified":"2013-06-06T12:03:42","modified_gmt":"2013-06-06T19:03:42","slug":"into-the-woods-at-the-eureka-where-energy-tops-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/into-the-woods-at-the-eureka-where-energy-tops-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Into the Woods at the Eureka where energy tops quality"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(left to right): Allison Meneley (Little Red), Kyle Stoner (Jack), David Naughton (Cinderella\u2019s Prince) and Courtney Merrell (Cinderella)<\/span><\/p>\n

INTO THE WOODS: Musical. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by James Lapine.Ray of Light Theatre, The Eureka Theatre (Jackson @ Battery) in San Francisco. www.rayoflighttheatre.com<\/a>May 31 \u2013 June 29, 2013<\/p>\n

Into the Woods<\/em> at the Eureka where energy tops quality<\/p>\n

After seeing four local productions of Into the Woods<\/em> comparisons are inevitable. The TheatreWorks production was the most professional, the Sixth Street mounting the most charming, the Broadway by the Bay staging most hectic and this Ray of Light creation the most energetic. Energy is a trademark descriptive adjective for Ray of Light as is professionalism .Most of the dissatisfaction can be attributed to the direction of the final act where visual humor supersedes quality diction and necessary intricate timing to make it a rewarding evening.<\/p>\n

Sondheim and Lapine\u2019s contorted view of fairy-tales begins with a narrator, who doubles as Mysterious Man (Derek Travis Collard) saying \u201cOnce upon a time, a Baker and his Wife journey into the woods. . .\u201d where they meet Little Red Riding Hood (Allison Meneley), Cinderella (Courtney Merrell), Jack of Beanstalk fame (Kyle Stoner), Rapunzel (Melissa Reinertson)), two Princes (Ted Zoldan and a fine David Naughton)) and a menagerie of other characters. The creators have added their own fairy tale of a Baker (Austin Ferris), and his wife (Nikki Arias) who is childless due to a curse placed on them by the neighboring Witch (Michele Jasso) because the baker\u2019s father has stolen the greens from her garden. This is the first bit of morality that abounds in the play; the son shall be punished for his father\u2019s sin.<\/p>\n

The witch will remove the curse if they venture forth (into the woods) and gather ingredients for a potion to remove the curse. Searching for the ingredients the Baker and his wife meet the aforementioned characters. Each possesses one ingredient: Jack \u201ca cow as white as milk\u201d, Red Riding Hood \u201cthe cape as red as blood\u201d, Rapunzel \u201cthe hair as yellow as corn\u201d and Cinderella \u201ca slipper as pure as gold.\u201d All have ventured \u201cinto the woods\u201d for their own purpose to \u201cfind what they wish for.\u201d\u00a0 By the end of the energetic, humorous, intriguing 90-minute first act all have found what they wish for singing a rousing first act curtain chorus of \u201cEver After\u201d and they should \u201clive happily ever after.\u201d<\/p>\n

It has been said that when the musical is performed by High School groups it ends with the rousing happy \u201cEver After\u201d finale. There is the admonishment to \u201cbeware of what you wish for.\u201d The narrator\u2019s Act II prologue \u201cSo Happy\u201d ends with the Baker\u2019s house destroyed by a huge footprint.\u00a0 The widow of the Giant Jack has slain is back to seek her revenge. Back into the woods they all go. This time the plot is indeed black surrounded by death and destruction and \u201chappily ever after\u201d is not to be. Sondheim interjects a hopeful note with the plaintive \u201cNo One Is Alone\u201d and the finale \u201cChildren Will Listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collard as the narrator and Mysterious man does not project enough authority to keep the story going. Pity that the Giant\u2019s widow throws him into oblivion thus predicting the characters will never know how their stories will end. Michele Jasso makes the wicked witch wicked, while singing Sondheim\u2019s convoluted lyrics, and is gorgeous when transformed into a mere mortal with no unearthly powers but lacks the vocal demeanor for the role. Austin Ferris as the gentle but reticent Baker is the splendid foil for Nikki Arias (the wife) whose voice and acting almost steals the show. Almost, but not quite, since Kyle Stoner is charming and loveable as Jack of Beanstalk fame and David Naughton and Ted Zoldan are fun to watch as they preen and prance on and off stage. \u00a0Courtney Merrell\u2019s over the top depiction of the gluttonous Little Red Riding Hood has her moments but could tone down the histrionics.<\/p>\n

To mention all 18 members of the cast would make a long review. Be assured they all perform admirably with enthusiasm, zany humor, and flair while seeming to have fun. Once again, as with their previous productions, Sondheim\u2019s delicious lyrics are not enunciated clearly and often drowned out by the orchestra. They are moving back to the Victoria Theatre for their next show where the acoustics are much better. Running time a long 2 hours and 50 minutes with intermission.<\/p>\n

Kedar K. Adour, MD<\/p>\n

Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(left to right): Allison Meneley (Little Red), Kyle Stoner (Jack), David Naughton (Cinderella\u2019s Prince) and Courtney Merrell (Cinderella) INTO THE WOODS: Musical. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6273","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-kedar-k-adour"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"