Oddly whimsical ‘Into the Woods’ pleases, perplexes

By Jay Roberson

As fellow audience members and I walked into the Yvonne Theater to view Rider’s adaptation of the well-known Stephen Sondheim musical “Into the Woods” this weekend, we were transported into a library full of fairytale characters. Every once in a while, a librarian even shushed the audience giving the theater a real library feel.

If you are not familiar with the show, “Into the Woods” retells the classic fairy tales “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Rapunzel” by blending them all together.

 It all begins with a husband and wife who are bakers and find out their family has been cursed by a witch that prevents them from having a child. They must gather a slipper “as pure as gold,” a cow “as white as milk,” a cape “as red as blood” and hair “as yellow as corn” in three nights to break the curse.

The set design was captivating with towering book shelves, three tables set up with characters rotating in and out of them and a large window behind them showing tree branch shadows. Throughout the show, the cast utilized the different levels, using a bookshelf in the middle almost as a runway.

The lighting design supported the story by isolating the narrator at points of tension where he is not sure how he is going to continue to tell the story. The lighting that came in through the large window behind the set changed hues and intensities to further help set the moods of each scene.

The use of props and the space in general also appealed to me. During scenes, other characters and ensemble were seen in the background sitting at library tables talking, reading or even napping. They would utilize the books and bags during choreography, giving the props a purpose.  

Despite this unexpected setting for the musical, I feel the set design was well thought out and executed. 

However, some parts of the costume design threw me off of the show’s fairytale vibes. For example, Rapunzel, played by senior musical theater major Lyndsey Adkisson, sported a cheer uniform and her prince, played by senior musical theater Rafael Ferreira, a varsity jacket. Being that Rapunzel was trapped in a tower for her whole life, I was not sure why she was presented as a cheerleader.

Throughout the show, the modern adaptations of character’s wardrobes were not addressed. Jack, played by senior musical theater major Hunter Quinn, could be seen wearing a flannel and overalls, more fitting to his character, but it was unclear as to why his cow, Milky White, played by sophomore musical theater major Noah Bantle, was presented wearing a football jersey. 

Cinderella’s step sisters, played by senior musical theater major Madison Winkler and junior musical theater major Grace McKenna, wore bright pink metallic jackets, heavy and bright eye makeup and one of them even wore a blinged out hat that said “QUEEN.” Along with that, Cinderella, played by senior musical theater major Lydia Diekmann, and her prince, played by junior musical theater major Alain Brutus wore prom prince and princess sashes when they got married. Some of the costume choices did not align with the other characters or the plot in their story.

Because of the show’s humorous and absurd nature, I can see why the costume team may have been trying to go for a more campy feel. Though, for me, the use of these modern costumes made me feel disconnected from certain scenes. 

I feel if these more modern elements were incorporated into the plot, or if the characters had all been wearing campy costumes, I would have understood the purpose of these artistic choices better. 

Other than costume design, I felt the rest of the show was executed well. The entire cast was insanely talented and were able to give justice to the characters.

In particular, the Witch, played by senior musical theater major Olivia Sauerberg, and Jack’s Mother, played by senior musical theater major Mia Mintz, were vocal powerhouses. I could feel the intense energy and emotion throughout all of their solos, really giving depth to their characters. 

While I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching Rider’s production of “Into the Woods,” the costume design left me wondering exactly what kind of vision they were going for.

Jay Roberson is a senior English and secondary education major