Stephen Sondheim’s musicals bring out the best in the Manatee Players and artistic director Rick Kerby.
“Sweeney Todd” and “Sunday in the Park with George” were among the theater’s best productions of the last decade, and his “Into the Woods” rises to that level.
Dianne Dawson as the Baker's wife, and Brian Chunn as her husband in the Manatee Players production of "Into the Woods." Denny Miller Photo/Provided by Manatee Players
It’s an inventively staged, wonderfully performed production of the fairy tale mashup by Sondheim and writer James Lapine. No matter how many times I see it (including the recent film), I come away with a renewed appreciation of its lessons about considering the ramifications of your actions and the importance of working together for the common good.
Kerby and scenic designer Donna Buckalter make it look like a fairy tale comes to life. Large books about Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and others open up to reveal the characters and their homes. Stacks of more books create the tower where Rapunzel is hidden by a witch and the steps where an eager prince tries to catch a nervous Cinderella as she flees from a palace ball. The trees of the forest are made from pages of other books.
Craig Weiskerger plays a wolf who comes across Kyle Ann Lacertosa as Little Red Ridinghood in "Into the Woods" at Manatee Players. Denny Miller Photo/Provided by Manatee Players
In a change from tradition, 10-year-old Judah Woomert plays the narrator in a charming style as he introduces the characters and keeps the story flowing.
And he is joined by an expert cast who, under musical director Aaron Cassette, enunciate every line in Sondheim’s lyrics while making the most of his joyous or melancholy melodies. (You can hear them better now with the theater’s improved sound system.)
The production marks the welcome return to the stage of Dianne Dawson (she took time off to have a baby). After playing Cinderella in a Venice Theatre production, she is smart, pragmatic and soulful as the Baker’s Wife. With Brian Chunn creating a nice mix of emotions as the Baker, they bring all the characters together as they try to break a witch’s curse that has left them childless.
The result is a giant terrorizing their kingdom.
Sarah Cassidy is sweet and endearing as Cinderella, who falls for a prince and learns palace life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Sarah Cassidy sees two sides of life as Cinderella in the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical "Into the Woods" at the Manatee Players. Denny Miller Photo/Provided by Manatee Players
The endearing Kyle Ann Lacertosa is adorably grating as the hungry Little Red Riding Hood, who grows up during the story, just like Chris McCoy as Jack, a misfit who is too attached to an old cow. Like the rest of the cast, McCoy has a clear voice filled with feeling in “Giants in the Sky.”
Manatee Players newcomer Christina Capehart is delightful wicked and sarcastically sweet as the witch. Rita Mazer is a bit posey at first as Jack’s poor and frustrated mother, but becomes filled with a more natural spirit.
Christina Capehart plays the Witch in the Manatee Players production of "Into the Woods." Denny Miller Photo/Provided by Manatee Players
Eliza Engle brings an angelic voice to her role as Rapunzel, who spends most of the show humming and screaming. And Craig Weiskerger and Alexander Zickafoose as two callous princes are well-matched. They look almost like real brothers as they put the right amount of irony into their hilarious duet “Agony.”
Corinne Woodland looks a little young to be playing Cinderella’s stepmother, but has fun playing evil with Rachel Knowles and Michelle Anaya as her daughters.
Alexander Zickafoose, left, and Craig Weiskerger play princes who want what they can't have in "Into the Woods" at the Manatee Players. Denny Miller Photo/Provided by Manatee Players
The cast is well costumed by Becky Evans, who manages a good mix of peasant simplicity and glittery finery, and lighting designer Mike Wood makes you feel like you’re watching all the action as if light is filtering through a heavy cover of trees.
It is one of the productions where the stars align with the right combination of talents to create a fresh and lively return to the woods.
THEATER REVIEW
INTO THE WOODS
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby. Reviewed Feb. 12, Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave., West, Bradenton. Through March 1. Tickets are $27-$37, $15-$18 for teachers and $13-$16 for students. For more information: 748-5875; manateeperformingartscenter.com.
