My wife and I enjoy going to New Voice and Rep musicals, but it seems lately we haven't been able to watch any. I think the last one we watched together was Rep's "Sound of Music" with Monique Wilson last year. We made sure we made time to catch "Into the Woods" last night November 30, (which thankfully was not subject to a curfew unlike the night of November 29), despite my ongoing convention. It was to be part of my daughter Haley's birthday celebrations on December 2.
Regarding the story, I did not really know much about "Into the Woods" except that it would feature various fairy tales all of which would intersect with each other. For the music, I was not very familiar with the songs except for "Children Will Listen" (but only for the Streisand version). I knew I could expect Sondheim songs to be very good.
As for the play itself, I was advised that the first half would be a happy and satisfying play in itself, and that the 2nd half would be a more serious and somber affair requiring parental guidance. As we watched, this advice is true. Many in the audience around me thought that Act I was already the entire play! And yes, Act II takes the story on a trip to bizarre "what-if" situations. Actions and songs slow down a bit. There were successive tragedies (there's a darkly funny one involving the Narrator! haha) and an unexpected detour into (gulp!) adultery, fully deserving its parental guidance rating.
I don't know how "Into the Woods" was staged in bigger Broadway stages, but the local version as conceptualized by Director Rito Asilo makes good use of the smaller Music Museum stage. The stage and props were spare but good enough, nothing over the top. The prop cow "Milky White" was very memorable and funny, and even endearing. Kudos!
However, this musical succeeds mainly because of the amazing singers who bring the songs to vivid life. Here are my thoughts about them:
- Menchu Lauchengcoas the Baker's wife has great songs which she infuses with so much passion. Her voice is very beautiful as her face was mesmerizing, especially where we were seated (2nd row). Her comic timing, and her dramatic flair, are both showcased front and center, throughout her performance. Her "Moments in the Woods" number is fantastic.
- Michael Williams as the Baker is really getting better every time I see him. His singing and acting were in top form here. You could feel his emotions as he sang with Tommy Abuel. His songs with Menchu were always great, as well as his number with Azanza and Valdez at the end.
- Cathy Azanza as Cinderella: I don't think I have seen her before. But her voice really soars high and clear. I like her tender moments with Little Red Riding Hood at the end. Quite a promising musical actress.
- Jamie Wilson as Cinderella's Prince: I think he was also the Wolf, wasn't he? With a perpetual sinister sneer on his face, only Jamie can deliver lines such as "I'm supposed to be Charming, not Sincere" with the proper conviction. He is noticeably gaining a paunch, especially beside his much slimmer "brother".
- Tommy Abuel as the Mysterious Man: Wow, I am glad to finally see this master of the local stage live in action! And in a musical at that. I did not expect him to have a singing voice. His duet with Michael Williams was very good, both vocally and acting-wise.
- Lynn Sherman was great as the Witch, great voice acting and singing in character. She somehow loses something when she becomes a beautiful woman for some reason. Ironically, her singing became weaker as her body straightened up. Ms. Sherman does make up for this again with her "Last Midnight" number toward the end.
- Julia Abueva as Little Red Riding Hood: She had clear bell-like tones when she is singing, very impressive for her age (only 11!?). She is still a bit stiff in her acting, but she's still so young, and I'm sure more stage musical exposure will surely loosen her up. I know it is not her fault that her character is too neurotic and annoying for me, hehehe.
- Joaqui Valdez as Jack: He had that blank yet shifty look in his face as the strapping but dimwit Jack. Too bad his voice was a bit too weak for a major character. His voice can easily be drowned out when he is in a duet or group song. He did have a memorable hilariously touching farewell scene with his cow "Milky White."
Overall, I highly recommend everyone to catch "Into The Woods" on its last two weekends. My family loved it. My 8 yr old daughter stayed awake up to the end, wanting to see how it all ends. You will never see fairy tales the same again! Those inter-fairy tale-linkages were very imaginative and funny. A lot of fun! Hahaha!
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PS: My family also thanks Director Rito Asilo for his generous personal invitation to watch this night's performance, which coincidentally coincided with the date we had bought tickets for. I am quite humbled. It was just too bad that we were not able to meet him personally that night.
PPS: It was also very surprising to see St. Luke's colleagues there in the audience. The Felicianos (Gino and Maita) and family were there. In fact, it was Maita's mom who recognized me. Also, Dra. May Campomanes and the kids were also there. Dr. Benjo had to be at the PSO-HNS Business Meeting, which I conveniently skipped, despite some burning society issues which I will learn more about today.
Dr. Fred, thanks very much for watching "Into the Woods" last Friday. Truly means a lot to our company that people like you support the theater despite the recent events in our country that would have closely prevented us from sharing all the hard work we've done the past months to mount this show. Glad to know that you and your family enjoyed your journey "Into the Woods". Hope to finally meet you, perhaps in another New Voice Show---God Speed and happy 2nd birthday to your daughter! =>!
I quite agree with you on Lynn Sherman losing her singing voice as she turned into a beautiful woman instead of her former ugly witch self. I thought it was just me or that the sound system at Music Museum that night simply sucked and killed her voice (and somehow pretty much a lot of the other actors' as well)...but now I know it's not just my imagination.
I, too, wrote a review on Into the Woods last November 19...care to take a peek? :p
3xhcch wrote on Dec 21, '07, edited on Dec 21, '07
That was a great review, complete with favorite lines and scenes. I want to remember these lines, but there's just too many that at the end, I don't remember anything! I did recall the "Charming, not sincere" line, but not as exact as I thought, hehe. Getting older, I guess... Thanks for sharing that, Oats.
My wife and I enjoy going to New Voice and Rep musicals, but it seems lately we haven't been able to watch any. I think the last one we watched together was Rep's "Sound of Music" with Monique Wilson last year. We made sure we made time to catch "Into the Woods" last night
