Into the Woods

Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim, blends various familiar fairy tales into an original story of a childless Baker and his Wife, who catalyze the action of the story by attempting to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child. In the first act, the characters set out to achieve their goal of living "Happily Ever After" through familiar routes and at the end of Act I, all characters seem poised to live "Happily Ever After". Act Two, however, deals with the consequences that traditional fairy tales conveniently ignore. As they face a genuine threat to their community, they realize that all actions have consequences, and their lives are inescapably interdependent, but also that that interdependence is their greatest strength. Act one begins with an introduction of the main characters, many of whom need little or no introduction. Henry Austin Bragg and Emily Gatesman are comically wonderful as the Baker and the Baker's Wife, which are the two central characters, and Wendy Fox plays the Wicked Witch, who splendidly portrays the motherly side of a witch. Erin Sauter plays Cinderella, who is terribly confused about what she wants, Kevin Quillon plays Jack, whose greed starts to take over what little common sense he has and Tina Ghandchilar plays Little Red Riding Hood, whose hunger for food turns into a hunger for blood. The play is based on the different obstacles the characters face in achieving their wish and how they work through them to reach a happy ending. The main conflict is between the Baker and his Wife who desperately want to have a child and the Wicked Witch who sends them on a journey into the woods to break the spell she has placed upon their family. The Baker and his wife need four things to break the spell, and each have a connection to one of the other main characters. While they are trying to obtain their items from the other characters, the Baker and the Baker's Wife have conflict amongst them...