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Into the Woods,
Jr. by Broadway Kids of San Diego  Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine brought together
Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, and other
favorite characters from the Grimm Fairy Tales for this enchanting tale about
companionship, community, and facing the dangers of the woods when life and
finding true happiness demands it. And 14-year-old director/producer Alice
Cash went into the woods of theatre production to bring the enchantment to
life, creating her own youth theatre company, arranging the permissions and
theatre space, marketing it, and casting a great group of younger actors from
San Diego’s large and talented youth theatre community.
This two-shows-only performance had the theatre at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center completely packed for Broadway Kids of San Diego’s premiere production of Into the Woods, Jr. – the shortened version of Into the Woods that makes a complete show of its first act. The second act was definitely missed, but half the show is still an entertaining piece. Josh Herren and Shannon Partrick starred as the good-natured Baker and his sensible Wife – normal citizens of the town just outside the woods who are forced to enter the wild woods in order to overcome a witch’s curse that has left them childless – an effort that leads them into encounters with Little Red, Jack, Cinderella, Rapunzel, a couple of charmingly arrogant princes, and a variety of other unusual folk. Those folks include Zoe Katz as the ugly, hunched, villainous Witch wanting to transform into her former beauty, and who clearly loves her career choice as she prods and batters the bakers into submission. Devon Hollingsworth makes for a sublime Cinderella, Jonathan Edzant is a charming, little thief as he steals from giants and especially compelling as he nurtures his friendship with his dear friend Milky White (the family cow played by Gretchen Cash, who has a memorable death scene), and Rebecca Myers is a Little Red with an amusingly big attitude (and you don’t want to steal her red cape unless you’ve got earplugs handy). The animated ensemble gave the show a boost of energy throughout. A few standouts included Casey Jaquez as Jack’s hilariously crabby mother, Catherine Miller as the Narrator who tells the story in storytelling fashion, James Maslow as both the wily wolf and wolfish prince (joined by Matt Maretz for their big Agony scene as they chase after Cinderella and climb after Rapunzel (Malone Peed)), Cameron Elmore as the spry Mysterious Man, and Zoe Eprile as a tiny and hysterical Granny who enjoys getting a little back-at-ya on the Wolf who ate her. Alice Cash gets her directing debut off with a well-cast and dynamic production, its biggest challenge understandably working with the sound. The timing was right on, the staging was creative and entertaining (for one example, having the Baker “accidentally” use Milky White’s leash to trip up the vain Prince as he exits the stage after talking to the Baker’s Wife), and the set (with help from Alan Cash and Terry Katz) was attractive and clever for both scene changes and in its scenery (like having Jack’s home with a portrait of Milky White prominently displayed above the mantle!).Performed August 4 and 7, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Baker: Josh Herren Baker's Wife: Shannon Partrick Witch: Zoe Katz Cinderella: Devon Hollingsworth Cinderella's Prince: James Maslow Jack: Jonathan Edzant Little Red Ridinghood: Rebecca Myers Wolf: James Maslow Rapunzel's Prince: Matt Maretz Rapunzel: Malone Peed Mysterious Man: Cameron Elmore Jack's Mother: Casey Jaquez Cinderella's Stepmother: Samantha Cash Florinda: Sophia Kostas Lucinda: Jenny Barwick Steward: Matt Maretz Narrator: Catherine Miller Granny: Zoe Eprile Cinderella's Father: Cammy Green Cinderella's Mother: Catherine Miller Milky White the Cow: Gretchen Cash Hen: Melanie Farfel Director/Producer: Alice Cash Stage Manager: Arielle Pardes Set Artwork: Terry Katz Set Construction: Alice and Alan Cash |