Who ever heard of Little Red Riding Hood carrying a concealed weapon? Or Cinderella’s Prince being a cheating bastard? These classic fairy tales are brought to life with a contemporary twist by the Music School and Theater Department’s production of “Into the Woods.”
With stage direction by Wil Kilroy and musical direction by Beth Barefoot-Jones, the show combines the fairy tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and the Baker into one story filled with themes of humanity, relationships, and the love of children.
“It’s the story of the traditional fairy tales where the characters give you an inside look at the consequences of their actions,” said Kilroy. “Usually you ask someone what happens to Jack and they say ‘he had the golden egg and he was rich’ but that isn’t where the story ends.”
Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, the musical garnered multiple Drama Desk and Tony Awards during its initial run on Broadway. USM’s production boasts a cast of 24 students and a nine-piece orchestra.
“You never thought you’d see these characters in this light, as humans with problems,” said senior Kelly Caufield, who plays the Witch.
Senior theater major Samantha Kinne plays the Baker’s Wife who encounters Cinderella’s Prince while in the woods and engages in a hurried affair. She later realizes it was a mistake.
“The Baker’s Wife realized that she never wanted (the affair), which for her was like having an affair with a movie star,” said Kinne. “In reality we spend our time longing for things to be better even though our lives are great as it is.”
Cinderella, played by sophomore theater major Rachel Garfield, encounters the same type of problem. After she learns of the affair with her husband, she realizes her life isn’t what she had hoped, and opts for her own happiness.
“When she finally gets what she thinks she wants, she realizes it isn’t as great as she thought it would be,” said Garfield.
Kilroy’s modernist vision is evident in the costumes of each character. Specially designed for this production by Broadway costume designer Alan Smith, the costumes create an image of fairy tales in today’s world. Little Red Riding Hood will be skipping to grandmother’s house in fishnet stockings and mini shorts, while Jack and the Beanstalk will represent Old Navy style.
“We’re trying to point out the generation gap between the older characters who are trying to guide the younger more modern characters through their lives,” said Kilroy. “It’s also making it more accessible to audience (members) who are feeling their way through their own path into the woods.”
Brian Wilson, senior music education/musical theater double major, who leads the cast as the Baker, describes the importance of the morals of the play.
“The play makes us look at how we raise our children and what our children expect from us. It makes us look at our goals in life and how we often sacrifice a lot of things to reach these goals.”
Though the show has many serious themes, the musical is filled with sarcasm and modern humor. While in the woods, Jack comes upon Little Red Riding Hood who has just been approached by the Wolf. Red is startled by Jack and ends up threatening him with a knife screaming and kicking “Hi-ya!”
“Wil definitely found the balance in the musical between being true to the fairy tales and to put a modern twist to the show. It really adds a lot of flair,” said Caufield.
Contributing Writer Nicolette Harding can be contacted at: [email protected]
Show times
7:30 March 8 and 9 and March 12 through 16. 5 p.m. March 10 and 17. Tickets are $5 for students, $12 general public. Reservations can be made by calling the theater box office at 780-5151. And they lived happily ever after.