Boston review of "Into the Woods" posted

[tapfrog]

Posted: 6/21/10 at 10:29pm

https://boston.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=143539&preview=on

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 12:04am

Saw it this weekend and was very impressed. I'm so glad to see Reagle getting out of its comfort zone and doing SO WELL with INTO THE WOODS. I love the show, one of my faves, and Reagle did a great job with it on the whole. The voices were stellar! Not a weak link. And the orchestra was quite lush. Loved it.

The acting was superbly layered in some cases (Rachel York as the Witch - just devastatingly powerful and poignant, McCaela Donovan as Cinderella - simply glorious, Greg Stone as Jack - very touching with a great arc, and the two Princes, Ayal Miodovnik and Brennan Roach - Agony was a hoot). Some of the acting disappointed (the Baker's Wife in particular, she wasn't warm at all), and some of the characters didn't get all of the humor or subtext. But I blame the director for that. The talent was clearly there. The staging was also kind of clunky when the entire ensemble was on board, and choreography was non-existent! Many lost opportunities for visual humor, especially with Red and the Wolf, the Princes, and the Step Sisters. The narrator was also hampered by reading from an actual book he carried through the entire show. It really tied his hands and kept him from engaging well. Totally unnecessary and wrong headed.

The combo of set and lighting was very effective moodwise and really visually appealing. Loved the idea of the pages as backdrops and cut-out trees. But the massive unit block of steps center stage really hampered movement and caused some late entrances/cues. The idea was probably great on paper, but it didn't work in practice to keep the intertwined story elements moving as fluidly as necessary. It hurt the pace and energy a tad. Staging was most effective in the more intimate numbers. The levels and lighting made for some very nice tableaus.

The music direction and execution were without a doubt the strongest elements in the show. GREAT voices and song interpretations. No One Is Alone, Stay With Me, Witch's Lament, Last Midnight, Children Will Listen, all incredibly moving. There were tears in my eyes a number of times. And I must repeat: Rachel York and McCaela Donovan were stunning.

Well worth the trip to the 'burbs, definitely.
Boston Globe Review

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:03am

Yay McCaela! I'm probably doing SITPWG with her in the fall!

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:25am

bwaylvsong,

Where? That's fabulous! Are you playing George? Will she be Dot?

The Herald review is now up, too. More love for McCaela. She's quite a talent!
Boston Herald Review

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:37am

At Brandeis University (Brandeis Theater Company). Auditions haven't happened yet, so I don't know what our roles will be (she's a shoe-in for Dot and I'm hoping for but not expecting George), but I'm sure we'll both be in it.
Yes, she's amazing! I haven't personally worked with her yet, but I've seen her perform numerous times and everyone who has worked with her loves her.

[Frogela]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 11:08am

Hi Matt!

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 1:50pm

bwaylvsong,

I may just have to trot on over to Brandeis for that! Keep us posted please.

Meanwhile, here's another GREAT review of Into the Woods, Rachel and McCaela. Methinks the show and both actresses will be remembered at awards time.

I've just decided. I'm going back!
Hub Review

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 9:20pm

Greater Boston just aired a very cool segment on INTO THE WOODS tonite. Jared Bowen interviewed Rachel York and they showed clips from the Reagle show and from her career.

McCaela got some good screen time, too!

She's a star in the making for sure.

INTO THE WOODS VIDEO Updated On: 6/22/10 at 09:20 PM

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 10:08pm

Absolutely, lovesclassics!
Hi, Frogela, whoever you may be (check your private messages so I know who you are lol)!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 11:04pm

Will be seeing this on Thursday. Very excited.

[tapfrog]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:33pm

I'm going to see the show again Thursday night!

[JBHapgood2]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 12:59pm

Fantastic! I'm so excited to get out there and see it.

[tapfrog]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 11:34pm

Just came back from seeing the show for my second time and it only got better. The pacing in the first act seemed crisper, no sound issues worth mentioning, and everyone was more settled in their roles. All that was great on opening night remains intact. Get there this weekend - the show closes Sunday afternoon.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 11:48pm

Overall -- it was solid. There were moments of greatness. But I did feel like it dragged....but I may be coming down with something.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 11:54pm

It's been so long since I've been to a production here...
For those who went...
Are the cheap seats *really* far away? And along the same vein, how full was the theater?

Thanks!

[tapfrog]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 8:47am

I don't think the cheap seats are that bad if your vision is average. It is a high school auditorium with a gradual grade to the rows. Thursday night house was pretty good - everything in the center was filled.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 9:00am

The rake is not great in the auditiorium...we had a little difficulty seeing over the heads in front of us...but not gads.

I would definitely suggest sitting CENTER as the staging really forgets about the sightlines from the side. There were MANY times I could not see actors on stage because of another actor blocking the way.

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 10:55am

Yay!! Greg and I go to school together and he is always a wonderful performer. He brings a lot of depth to all of the characters he plays.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 9/16/10 at 3:57pm

McCaela got Dot and I'm in it, too!
"Sunday in the Park with George" runs November 18-21 at Brandeis University.