Into the Woods/The Woodsman

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INTO THE WOODS/THE WOODSMAN

Photo: Joan Marcus

Cititour.com Review
“Anything can happen in the woods.” This is a lesson theatergoers are currently being reminded of by both Fiasco Theater’s inventive production of Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine’s beloved musical “Into the Woods” (from which the above lyric derives) at the Roundabout’s Laura Pels Theatre, and James Oritz’s haunting if slow-moving 60-minute performance piece “The Woodsman,” which has returned to 59E59 Theaters for a six-week run.

For those of you still reveling in Rob Marshall’s lush, Oscar-nominated film version of “Into the Woods,” be warned that Fiasco has taken an almost completely opposite approach to the piece. While Derek McLane’s rope-filled, piano-strewn set is something of a marvel, the show uses only 10 actors (which requires a bit of doubling) and music director Matt Castle, whose piano provides most of the musical accompaniment (with the cast dabbling in some John Doyle-like instrument-playing).

However, the show’s considerable strengths –- notably, its brilliantly complex lyrics and deep understanding of inter-personal relationship – still shine as brightly as ever. So do it weaknesses: an overlong first act, a strange, sad tonal shift in its second act, and a panoply of endings, as if Sondheim and Lapine couldn’t really decide which song to leave us with. (I would have voted for the heartbreaking “No One Is Alone”.)

The production’s co-directors Noah Brody and Ben Sternfeld, are in their own ways, a similarly mixed bag. Brody is quite funny, but he has neither the right demeanor nor singing voice for the role of Cinderella’s Prince. Sternfeld, on the other hand, is spectacularly moving as the beleaguered Baker, who finds his inner strength through his journey in the woods. He also plays beautifully opposite three wondrous women: the touching Jessie Austrian as his wife; the often-hilarious Emily Young as Little Red (also doubling as Rapunzel); and the quite moving Claire Karpen as Cinderella, who finds being a Princess isn’t everything a girl could wish.

The cast has numerous other standouts as well. Jennifer Mudge may play The Witch, but this consummate actress is a goddess as the malevolent, maternal sorceress. (Meryl Streep, watch out). Patrick Mulryan is considerably older than the young boys who traditionally play Jack, but he perfectly captures the character’s child-like behavior, and sings one of the most gorgeous versions of “Giants in the Sky” I’ve heard; Andy Groteluschen is hilarious as the cow Milky White and effective as Rapunzel’s Prince, and Liz Hayes is equally strong-willed (in different ways) as Jack’s mother and Cinderella’s stepmother.

Judging the acting in “The Woodsman,” which has been co-directed by Ortiz and the just-mentioned Claire Karpen, is harder to judge, since the show is primarily performed in pantomime. Based on the “Oz” books by Frank L. Baum, this unusual work tells the backstory of a how simple farmboy (played by Ortiz) became the now-famous Tin Man after earning the wrath of The Wicked Witch of the East (Sophia Zukowisku, abetted by a rather terrifying puppet) by falling in love with her servant Nimmee (a plaintive Eliza Simpson). Personally, some dialogue would have helped sustain my interest, as would more of the lovely songs composed by Edward W. Hardy, which are only heard periodically. Maybe they should have asked Sondheim if they could have borrowed a little excess from “Into the Woods.”
By Brian Scott Lipton


Visit the Site
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/into-the-woods.aspx

Cast
Jessie Austrian, Noah Brody, Paul L. Coffey, Andy Grotelueschen, Liz Hayes, Claire Karpen, Jennifer Mudge, Patrick Mulryan, Ben Steinfeld, Emily Young

Open/Close Dates
Opening 1/22/2015
Closing 4/12/2015

Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 12/18/2014
Closing Open-ended

Box Office
212-719-1300

Theatre Info
Laura Pels Theatre
111 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map



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