Post by lost_person_no1 on Oct 12, 2004 14:08:37 GMT 11
There's a review up on www.broadwayaustralia.com.
I'll be seeing it saturday night & I'll prob post some comments after that..
I'll be seeing it saturday night & I'll prob post some comments after that..
Review: Into The Woods ... In The Woods
Tuesday, October 12, 9:03am
As I drove down the winding path amongst the towering trees of the Cumberland State Forest to arrive at Music Theatre on Location’s production of Into the Woods I felt I had left the realities of Sydney city behind. Rob Martin has found a wonderfully apt location for his production of Stephen Sondheim’s challenging musical. A well cleared stage was set among the eucalypts and Jeff Fisher’s polished orchestra entertained as we took our seats.
The production itself was most professional. The talented cast quickly engaged the audience and introduced us to the land of fractured fairy tales that is the world of Into the Woods. Quality miking enabled the actors to focus on their singing and the only technical glitch seemed to be a beanstalk that was tardy in it’s climb.
The cast worked strongly as an ensemble with Sophie Carter as the Witch a particular standout. Her commanding voice and comic skills held the audience in thrall. Sophie Collins as the Baker’s Wife and Joel Elferink as her hard working husband were an affecting pair working well off each other and carrying difficult roles. Each actor contributed to the overall strength of the production; Jack (Bradley Carroll) brought a youthful vigour to his part and his mother Patricia Johnston was suitably frustrated by his affection for his cow.
The first Act of the play held the audience’s attention and successfully evoked numerous fairy tales. The two princes brought the house down with their rendition of "Agony" singing comically about chasing Cinderella and Rapunzel and Peter Saide’s double role as Cinderella’s Prince and the wily Wolf who could not resist the succulent Red Riding Hood was aptly humourous.
The finale of Act One wound each story to a happy conclusion and Act Two saw the reality behind these happy endings. Perhaps it was the chill in the air by this hour but the actors lost some of their energy and drive in this act. Strong ensemble acting continued to carry the performance and a poignant conclusion to the musical found a contented cast and audience at the close of the night.
I thoroughly recommend Into the Woods for an entertaining evening out. Rob Martin is to be commended for his commitment to staging theatre on location and for assembling such a talented and committed cast and orchestra. The singing and performances were all of a high calibre and Sondheim’s complicated lyrics and music executed with a high degree of skill.
Into The Woods plays at the Cumberland State Forest until October 16. Bookings: 9645 1611.
- Alison Burns
Tuesday, October 12, 9:03am
As I drove down the winding path amongst the towering trees of the Cumberland State Forest to arrive at Music Theatre on Location’s production of Into the Woods I felt I had left the realities of Sydney city behind. Rob Martin has found a wonderfully apt location for his production of Stephen Sondheim’s challenging musical. A well cleared stage was set among the eucalypts and Jeff Fisher’s polished orchestra entertained as we took our seats.
The production itself was most professional. The talented cast quickly engaged the audience and introduced us to the land of fractured fairy tales that is the world of Into the Woods. Quality miking enabled the actors to focus on their singing and the only technical glitch seemed to be a beanstalk that was tardy in it’s climb.
The cast worked strongly as an ensemble with Sophie Carter as the Witch a particular standout. Her commanding voice and comic skills held the audience in thrall. Sophie Collins as the Baker’s Wife and Joel Elferink as her hard working husband were an affecting pair working well off each other and carrying difficult roles. Each actor contributed to the overall strength of the production; Jack (Bradley Carroll) brought a youthful vigour to his part and his mother Patricia Johnston was suitably frustrated by his affection for his cow.
The first Act of the play held the audience’s attention and successfully evoked numerous fairy tales. The two princes brought the house down with their rendition of "Agony" singing comically about chasing Cinderella and Rapunzel and Peter Saide’s double role as Cinderella’s Prince and the wily Wolf who could not resist the succulent Red Riding Hood was aptly humourous.
The finale of Act One wound each story to a happy conclusion and Act Two saw the reality behind these happy endings. Perhaps it was the chill in the air by this hour but the actors lost some of their energy and drive in this act. Strong ensemble acting continued to carry the performance and a poignant conclusion to the musical found a contented cast and audience at the close of the night.
I thoroughly recommend Into the Woods for an entertaining evening out. Rob Martin is to be commended for his commitment to staging theatre on location and for assembling such a talented and committed cast and orchestra. The singing and performances were all of a high calibre and Sondheim’s complicated lyrics and music executed with a high degree of skill.
Into The Woods plays at the Cumberland State Forest until October 16. Bookings: 9645 1611.
- Alison Burns
