Sondheim's Timeless Tale of Fairytale Frenzy Brings Tears and Laughter to the Bridge Theatre
Jordan Fein's mesmerizing production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre is a glorious mashup of the Brothers Grimm, expertly woven with the maestro's iconic music. The show begins with swift efficiency, hurtling through early songs before settling into its picaresque rhythm, where the Baker and his wife's misadventure in the woods becomes the catalyst for their emotional and comedic journey.
The Witch, played by Kate Fleetwood, is a textbook example of Carl Jung's "devouring mother" archetype, stifling Rapunzel's growth with her sinister presence. The two princes' marriages crumble under the weight of parenthood, while Red Ridinghood and Jack face the harsh realities of growing up without their parents.
The cast brings to life these complex characters with bags of charm, with standout performances from Oliver Savile as the ultra-feminine Jack and Gracie McGonigal as the fearless Red Ridinghood. The Witch, too, shines in her comically evil yet wronged persona, while Chumisa Dornford-May brings a poignant longing to Cinderella's yearning for a simpler time.
The actors' musical prowess is on full display, tackling every difficult or dissonant note with ease. Fleetwood is phenomenal both on and off stage, particularly in the operatic drama of "Witch's Lament." The ensemble's chemistry is palpable, delivering standout performances in songs like "Agony" and "Children Will Listen."
The set design by Tom Scutt is an exquisitely conceived canvas, transforming from a pitch-black backdrop to a living picture-book of arboreal splendour. The medieval-era costumes are elegant and rustic, imbuing the characters with a grown-up humanity that deftly sidesteps any potential pantomime feel.
Ultimately, Into the Woods is a dysfunctional family drama wrapped in fairytale bells, offering an alluring darkness that's both haunting and beautiful. Despite lacking the broadness or festive spirit of a Christmas show or panto, this production embodies the wonder and magic of both, leaving audiences spellbound until the end.
Jordan Fein's mesmerizing production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre is a glorious mashup of the Brothers Grimm, expertly woven with the maestro's iconic music. The show begins with swift efficiency, hurtling through early songs before settling into its picaresque rhythm, where the Baker and his wife's misadventure in the woods becomes the catalyst for their emotional and comedic journey.
The Witch, played by Kate Fleetwood, is a textbook example of Carl Jung's "devouring mother" archetype, stifling Rapunzel's growth with her sinister presence. The two princes' marriages crumble under the weight of parenthood, while Red Ridinghood and Jack face the harsh realities of growing up without their parents.
The cast brings to life these complex characters with bags of charm, with standout performances from Oliver Savile as the ultra-feminine Jack and Gracie McGonigal as the fearless Red Ridinghood. The Witch, too, shines in her comically evil yet wronged persona, while Chumisa Dornford-May brings a poignant longing to Cinderella's yearning for a simpler time.
The actors' musical prowess is on full display, tackling every difficult or dissonant note with ease. Fleetwood is phenomenal both on and off stage, particularly in the operatic drama of "Witch's Lament." The ensemble's chemistry is palpable, delivering standout performances in songs like "Agony" and "Children Will Listen."
The set design by Tom Scutt is an exquisitely conceived canvas, transforming from a pitch-black backdrop to a living picture-book of arboreal splendour. The medieval-era costumes are elegant and rustic, imbuing the characters with a grown-up humanity that deftly sidesteps any potential pantomime feel.
Ultimately, Into the Woods is a dysfunctional family drama wrapped in fairytale bells, offering an alluring darkness that's both haunting and beautiful. Despite lacking the broadness or festive spirit of a Christmas show or panto, this production embodies the wonder and magic of both, leaving audiences spellbound until the end.
i loved how they made the witch a complex character with so much depth - her "devouring mother" vibe was everything 
and omg kate fleetwood's performance in "witch's lament" was give me all the feels 
but idk why they didn't make more of red ridinghood's storyline tho, she was so underrated 
also can we pls talk about how chumisa dornford-may slayed as cinderella? 
and that set design tho... it was like stepping into a fairy tale world 
anyway, def recommend this show to anyone who loves musicals and complex characters 
nolte that witch is giving me all the feels, her performance was insane 
I'm totally swept away by this latest production of Into the Woods! The way they mashed up those classic fairytales with Sondheim's genius music is just pure magic 
. I mean, the cast is incredible - from Kate Fleetwood's witchy vibes to Oliver Savile's ultra-feminine Jack 
. And can we talk about Gracie McGonigal's Red Ridinghood? She's got so much spunk and sass 
. The set design is insane too - it's like stepping into a living fairy tale 
. It's not just a fairytale for kids, but a beautiful exploration of what makes us human 
.
. The Witch is literally just a bad mom 
and Rapunzel's character development is minimal 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "emotional journey" thing, it's like they're trying too hard to make us feel all the feels 
. I mean, I love Sondheim's music as much as the next person but this production just doesn't live up to the hype for me 
.
. Overall, I'm so here for this show! 
. And can we talk about Oliver Savile's performance as Jack? He brings this whole new level of depth to the character 
. And can't wait to see what the rest of the run has in store!
. And that set design was insane! It was like stepping into a fairy tale book 
. What I liked most is that it wasn't just a happy ending story, but it showed us that life can be messy and complicated too 
.
And that music? Wow, it gave me chills 
