Reviews: Into the Woods at Oakton HS
Written by Izzy Jewell of Woodgrove High School
"Children may not obey, but children will listen" and in Oakton High School's production of Into the Woods, the audience listens too, being drawn in by a story that reminds us that wishes may come true, but not without a price.
Into the Woods is a classic musical theatre hit with music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim. The show was introduced to Broadway in 1987 directed by James Lapine, running for 765 performances. This show blends many classic fairy tales, including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and more, creating a single storyline intertwining each story and character to create an emotionally complex story about wishes and the consequences that come with them.
Upon walking into the theatre, the set can be seen along with the ensemble, known as Woodland Sprites, already set on stage. The set was designed and built by students Eliot Hettler, Amelia Haid, Isabel Suk, and the Set Team. These amazing students were able to create a second layer to the stage to enhance the feel of being in the forest. Two incredibly unique parts of this set are the drawbridge and the trap door at the front of the stage. The drawbridge was used when bringing in set pieces taller than the surrounding second layer of the stage, a very resourceful way to make use of the stage. The trap door was used to make two very significant entrances and exits. It was executed extremely well, and the addition of fog shooting out made it truly magical, as if they disappeared into thin air. Lighting, done by the student Lighting Team, worked closely with each component of this show, it truly brought everything together with lots of lightning strikes and spotlights.
This production was filled with truly spectacular actors; some stand out actors include Cinderella's prince and The Wolf. Cinderella's Prince, played by Romain Dairay, was able to bring life to his character with a royal sounding accent and hilarious comedic timing. Dairay was also able to maintain his accent while singing, a feat that is very exciting to see. The Wolf, played by Rigley Mostafavi, is a character with a unique eerie feeling, that feeling was pushed to the max by Mostafavi. This character would be difficult for many to play, however, Mostafavi took this role and went all in. Something that speaks largely for him and will bring him far in the world of theatre. Mostafavi also plays Rapunzel's Prince and interacts quite a bit with Dairay as the princely duo. These two have hilarious chemistry on stage and in their performances the feeling of brotherly fighting over who wins is something the audience can relate to. There are two other actors that deserve recognition, those two being Wyatt Collis, who plays the Steward, and Gabriel Ayala, who plays Milky White. Collis had impeccable comedic timing and was truly hilarious on stage. Ayala was Milky White's handler, bringing life to a cow as white as milk. Ayala did an amazing job not only bringing life but also thought too Milky White. The ability to not say a single word, other than a couple of very sad moos, and bring so much emotion and variety to a character is truly awe-inspiring.
Oakton High School delivered a performance that was enchanting. The cast and crew's dedication were able to bring Sondheim's complex writing to life, leaving the audience with a truly memorable experience. Reminding the audience to appreciate what you have before you lose it.
Written by Julien Goulet of Bishop Ireton
If you had one wish, what would it be? What would you do for it? Would you make a deal and journey into an unfamiliar forest filled with wolves, witches and wives? Well, at Oakton High School, the way is clear, the light is good, and get ready, because you're going Into the Woods.
Into the Woods, a musical by Stephen Sondheim, premiered on Broadway in 1987, blending fairy tale characters and dark themes to explore the consequences of wishes and desires. It received critical acclaim for its complex music and storytelling, winning several Tony Awards, and has since become a beloved classic, with numerous revivals and a 2014 film adaptation.
As the story goes, a baker and his wife, prompted by a witch and a curse she placed on the couple, go out into the woods to retrieve special items for the enchantress. Once they do this, she promises she will reverse her spell. Both during and after their adventure, the baker family encounters an array of characters, including hungry Little Red, beanstalk-climbing Jack and his cow, Milky White, runaway Cinderella, and big, thundering giant! Lessons are learned, loved ones are lost, and everyone has their own happy ending. Well, not really.
Commanding the show with her incredible range of emotions, Leah Graham as the Baker's Wife took charge of every scene she was in. Whether she was trying to help her on stage husband (John Poncy) in retrieving the Witch's items, getting seduced by Cinderella's Prince (Romain Dairay), or casually belting out effortless high notes, Graham embodied the complicated character while simultaneously offering her own unique interpretation. Contrasting with Graham by playing the seemingly cold hearted, monstrous Witch, Meera Ayyar displayed wonderful intensity with each line she delivered. Especially when she was berating her daughter Rapunzel (Eleanor Williams) for falling in love, Ayyar never lost control of her booming voice and menacing demeanor.
Portraying the always famished, bloodthirsty Little Red, Savannah Day stole the show with her perfectly timed comedic quips and impressive vocal performances. Day's physicality was unmatched in the show, and she always found a way to make herself stand out even when not the center of attention. Little Red was not only a highlight but also a relief in the emotionally heavy show.
Building incredibly professional sets, Eliot Hettler, Ameila Haid, Isabel Suk and the set team transported the audience into a magical, story-book forest. Constructing a wooden bridge adorned with foliage and greenery, the set team provided the cast with an elaborate and stunningly beautiful backdrop for their performances. In addition to the bridge, the team built three open and close miniature sets, containing Cinderella's house and palace, the Baker's bakery, and Jack's desolate farmhouse. Also aiding the actors was the Oakton High School Pit Orchestra, with their sharp, precise chords and notes always coming in on time. They never missed a beat and powered through Sondheim's notoriously difficult music.
Sometimes people leave you. Sometimes you have to leave. While it may have proven tough to say goodbye to Oakton High School's Into the Woods, it was a delightful experience that remains felt long after the last journey through the woods is completed. Now we understand, and it is time to catch the show while you still have a chance!