Into the Woods makes fairy tales come alive

This Thursday evening marks the Don Wright Faculty of Music’s first showing of Into the Woods.

The Tony Award-winning production features the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. A captivating story for all ages, Into the Woods combines story lines from several Brothers Grimm stories while adding its own creative elements.

The production not only marks the faculty’s first production of the year, but also commemorates Sondheim’s 80th birthday.

In keeping with Sondheim’s vision, the faculty’s performance of Into the Woods closely follows the composer’s original music.

“David Rogers, the director, together with Mark Payne, the music director, bring out the elements that are in the score very much as Sondheim wrote them,” Ted Baerg, the play’s co-ordinator and profess or music, says.

Baerg believes the set construction and costuming will help to make the production unique for the audience.

“It has to be seen to be understood, but we do have a great many projections and interesting elements in costumes to make the story come alive,” he says.

Many rehearsal practices have gone into the production to make Into the Woods come alive. Auditions began in early April and the cast learned the music over the summer. Rehearsal began on August 25th.

“Everyone involved in the production had to be there for those three weeks before classes started,” Hannah Lucas, who plays Cinderella, says. “We rehearsed almost every day for those three weeks, and continued to rehearse on a daily basis when classes did commence.”

Lucas hopes the versatility of this music and the variety of themes within the play will make it enjoyable for everyone.

“The writing in the show is amazingly witty and clever. People of all ages will enjoy the humor,” Lucas says.

“[Into the Woods] has so many interesting themes musically and the fairy tales that it incorporates are all so well known,” Baerg adds.

UWOpera has several other performances to look forward to in the coming months including  an opera gala in October.

Showings of Into the Woods are at Davenport Theatre in Talbot College on Sept 30 and Oct 1 at 8 p.m. as well as on Oct 2 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students, and can be bought from the Orchestra London Box Office (519-679-8778). Unsold tickets will be available at the door for cash only, although performances do sell out. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15 for UWO students with their student card present.