'Into the Woods' opens at Rotary Theatre in Visalia
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If you’re a fan of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods”—or even if you don’t know the musical—you’ll find some fun, clever variations in the Tulare County Office of Education Theatre Company’s production that opens Thursday at Rotary Theatre in Visalia.
Director Bethany Rader says the director can make specific changes to the show, and she’s updated it. For instance, the two princes talk about their horses, but they come in on skateboards. Little Red Riding Hood has earphones.
And choreographer McKenna Friend-Hoffman has added some very interesting dancing and “nymphs” to the show.
“Into the Woods” doesn’t have much dance, and Friend-Hoffman likes “to give all dancers a shot.”
So she has added a waltz to Cinderella’s ball, and the nymphs’ movements help show the doubts and fears of the characters.
At one point, they even drag a character off stage.
Oh, and you can’t miss “Milky White,” the cow that plays a big role in the show—not only the amazing large-size puppet but puppeteer Lincoln White, who makes the cow come to life with his gestures and a few grunts.
Fairy tale wishes
The musical intertwines the plots of several fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the character’s wishes. Little Red, Jack, and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella are the main characters.
It’s all tied together by the story of a baker and his wife wanting to have a child, but a witch has cursed them. To reverse the curse, they must find “the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold.”
You can see how the fairytale characters might supply those wishes.
By the end of the first act, everything will end “happily ever after.”
Some productions using younger children only do the first act because everything begins to fall apart in the second act.
“That’s why I love this show,” Rader said. “Act 2 is about real life. Maybe what you think you want isn’t really what you want. So it’s a good lesson to teach kids.”
She gives the example of Cinderella.
“Maybe Cinderella’s prince isn’t so great. Does she need a prince to save her?”
Love Sondheim
“This show is a beast,” Rader said. “They say Sondheim hated actors. But we get amazing talented kids to audition. They pour their heart into their roles.”
And theater people love Sondheim. His themes are deep, and they’re explored in the songs.
“What is challenging about Sondheim is how his melodies intertwine,” said vocal director Charlotte Garcia Da Rosa. “The tempos, timing changes, counting. It keeps singers on their toes. He’s the Shakespeare of musical theater.”
And she feels this show has something for everyone.
“The show speaks to all generations,” she said. “Fairytales for the younger children, figuring out life for the teenagers, and parents will identify with the struggles the characters are going through.”
The high school cast loves the show.
“I love ‘Into the Woods,’” said Brennan Church, who plays the Baker. “You’re trying to do better each day and progress and have the courage to mess up.”
“The show is really special to me,” said Kathy Gonzales, who plays the Baker’s Wife. “My sister and her friends were in it the last time TCOE did it. Act 2 is my favorite. I love to do my scream.”
The main characters each have their big musical moment.
“I love my role,” said Rachel Espinoza, who plays the Witch and gets to do a split-second costume change practically on stage. Her favorite moment? “I get to be very emotional when I sing the ‘Witch’s Lament.’”
Ruthie Espinoza, who plays Cinderella, says the Broadway version differs from the movie. Her “moment” is singing “No One Is Alone” with Little Red. “I like pushing myself in a new role.”
25th anniversary
This will be the Theatre Company’s 25th summer show. Most summer shows have been at L.J. Williams Theatre, but this year they’ve moved to the smaller, newly-renovated Rotary Theatre for budgetary reasons.
That’s turned out to be a good thing.
“I love working in this theater,” Garcia Da Rosa said. “Because of its intimacy, I think the audience will be more immersed in the story.”
Several participants have been involved in many shows, starting as first graders and continuing through high school.
Daniel Townsend holds the record. This is his 28th show, 25 as a performer, one in the orchestra, last year as one of the alumni quartet in “The Music Man,” and this year as orchestra director.
Alums feel a bond with the Theatre Company and come back to volunteer. This year three alums are directing the preshow, something new to include the elementary students.
The preshow is also about fairytale characters. These are different characters pretending they are auditioning for the show. The directors suggest keeping a watchful eye.
“You might see a couple of those preshow characters turn up as cameo roles in the main show,” said Garcia Da Rosa.
How to attend
What: "Into the Woods"
When: July 20-29
Where: Rotary Theatre, 330 S. Dollner, Visalia
Information: All tickets are being sold online at www.tcoe.org/TheatreCo/Tickets. The shows are expected to sell out. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door if still available.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'Into the Woods' opens at Rotary Theatre in Visalia
