The Center Theatre Group delivers another winner with the Broadway touring production of Stephen Sondheim’s Exciting Deconstruction of Fairy Tales
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/4/23 – From the Ahmanson Theatre to the Pasadena Playhouse, the 2023 theatrical season in Southern California has been highlighted by tributes to the late Stephen Sondheim (1930 -2021). A legendary giant of American musical theatre, Sondheim once told Frank of the New York Times that he always had that “The outsider feeling—somebody who people want to both kiss and kill.” In the Center Theatre Group’s presentation of Into the Woods, Sondheim’s music and James Lapine’s book apply that outsider feeling to the most classic fairy tales in the canon, providing a new look at the most precious childhood stories. From Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk to Little Red Riding hood and Rapunzel, the most iconic characters populate this vibrant musical.
Direct from Broadway, the Tony® Award-winning production brings the best of the New York stage to the touring production. In the musical, Montego Glover as The Witch, Stephanie J. Block as The Baker’s Wife, Sebastian Arcelus as The Baker, and Gavin Creel as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf reprise their Broadway roles. Moreover, a hilarious Katy Geraughty as Little Red Riding hood, a spookily ominous David Patrick Kelly as the Mysterious Narrator, a wonderfully frustrated Diane Phelan as Cinderella, a delightfully oblivious Cole Thompson as Jack, and a wonderfully talented Kennedy Kanagawa as the Milky White puppeteer flesh out a huge cast that is first-rate all around.
(Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Finely directed by Lear DeBessonet with choreography by Lorin Latarro at the Ahmanson Theatre, the musical’s first act is the production’s strongest and most enduring part. While the first act plays with classic fairy tales, turning them on their heads, the second act reveals the consequences of killing giants and believing in the enduring power of magic. Thus, as a direct result of this construction, the second act’s deconstruction is simply not as enjoyable. Still, the musical remains engaging and robust in the second act because the first act is so downright fabulous.
The highlights in a strong ensemble are Katy Geraughty as Little Red Riding hood, David Patrick Kelly as the Mysterious Narrator, and Stephanie J. Block as The Baker’s Wife. As Little Red Ridinghood, Katy Geraughty is anything but sweet and innocent. Instead, she is a bit of a terror, demanding what she wants and usually getting it. From the Baker’s scrumptious creations to her triumph over the Wolf, she holds the stage with a sweeping comic presence that never falters.
As the mysterious narrator, seeing David Patrick Kelly in action is a pleasure. A legendary film bad guy with classic roles in The Warriors and Dreamscape, Kelly proves to be a whimsical joy in this musical. As the passionate but somewhat confused narrator, he does his best to contain the storylines as the door flies off its hinges. Although not a central character, the actor heightens many scenes with dynamic entrances and dejected exits. Although his attempt to keep it all together is bound to fail, he fails with wit, humor, melodrama, and laughter.
Finally, as the heart of the show, Stephanie J. Block provides buckets of naughty fun and passionate longing as the Baker’s Wife. Although she knows what she wants — a child with her hapless husband that would break the curse of Montego Glover’s witch — she proves to be easily distracted by a handsome, dashing, narcissistic Prince Charming (a magnificent Gavin Creel who also plays the Wolf). Often, she pauses the action to reflect on the wild absurdity of fairy tales and the mess of her life. She is perfection as a point of empathy and identification for the audience at the center of the storyline. Into the Woods at the Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre should not be missed.
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