MC's Into The Woods is a
fractured, but fun, fairy tale
Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre
Little Red Riding Hood threatens Jack in the Music Circus production of INTO THE WOODS, playing July 16-22 under the tent.
    It's the fractured fairy tale of musicals. INTO THE WOODS started its week-long run at Music Circus to the delight of the Sacramento crowd. It's an adult version of those fairy tales we all grew up with, including Little Red Riding Hood, The Baker and His Wife, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk - only with a twist!

    In INTO THE WOODS, nothing is quite what it seems. While the first half of the production plays out pretty much in traditional fairy tale style, the second half lets us see what happens after "Happily Ever After,"

    As a starting point, the story revolves around The Baker (Philip Hoffman) and his Wife (Mary Gordon Murray), who have had a spell placed on them by a Witch (Liz McCartney) so they can't have children. In order to break the spell they must gather a number of objects including a cow, a red cape, hair as yellow as corn and a golden slipper.

    Predictably, this quest crosses the paths of all the fairy tale characters. The Baker and his wife eventually complete their quest and everyone lives happily ever after - but then you find out what really happens! And this is where the fun begins.

    As a musical goes, INTO THE WOODS lacks any really memorable songs, but the music is really secondary to the twisted lives of the characters. By the end of the production, you'll be wishing there was more.

The Cast of INTO THE WOODS
 Narrator - William McCauley  Cinderella - Patricia Ben Peterson  Jack - Daniel Frank Kelley
 Baker - Philip Hoffman  Baker's Wife - Mary Gordon Murray   Cinderella's Stepmother - Jan Pessano
 Florinda - Jennifer Shelton  Lucinda - Cristin J. Hubbard  Jack's Mother - Frances Ford
 Little Red Ridinghood - Tracy Katz Paladini  Witch - Liz McCartney  Cinderella's Father - Joaquin Romaguera 
 Cinderella's Mother - Susan Hoffman  Mysterious Man - William McCauley  Wolf - Christopher Carl
 Rapunzel - Blake Lindsley  Rapunzel's Prince - Damon Kirsche  Grandmother - Susan Hoffman
 Cinderella's Prince - Christopher Carl  Steward - James Zannelli  Giant - Susan Hoffman
 Sleeping Beauty - Courtney Glass  Snow White - Amber Jean Moore    

    INTO THE WOODS performs through July 22 at the Music Circus on the corner of 15th and H Streets in downtown Sacramento. Performances are Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Single tickets are priced from $27-$45. Tickets are available at the Wells Fargo Pavilion box office, 1419 H Street (916-557-1999); or Tickets.com outlets (916) 766-2277.
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