Wishes Come True, and Then Not
November 19th, 2007 by Sharline Bareng, Staff WriterPosted in Media (Books, CDs, DVDs, Movies) |
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Before animated films started fiddling with the supposed “happily ever after” of fairy tales we’ve known throughout childhood, composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and theatrical director James Lapine had already settled their alternate ending in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Into the Woods. Now, Monique Wilson’s New Voice Company (NVC) stages this acclaimed musical in Manila, and I was very lucky to have seen its opening night last November 9.
Into the Woods intricately combines the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk with the tale of the Baker and his wife who wish to have children of their own. Unfortunately, a witch has cursed the Baker’s family to become barren because of her own personal grudge against the Baker’s father, who stole her greens and magical beans. For the curse to be lifted, the Witch orders the Baker and his wife to collect the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold within three nights.
Just like in any story, of course, there are struggles along the way. There’s Jack who’s very reluctant to part with his pet cow and only agrees to give her up when the Baker’s Wife offers him the magic beans. Cinderella gives up her gold slipper only on the third night so she can escape from the Prince, Little Red Riding Hood is too attached to her red hood, and there’s a little bit of magical trouble with Rapunzel’s hair. But still, everything comes to a happy ending in Act I, almost exactly as how the fairy tales are supposed to end. Until Act II comes in and the real trouble begins, that is.
The fact that this is a Sondheim musical already earns merits for NVC, as Into the Woods is famous for its difficult melody and syncopated speech. Thankfully, the NVC cast has risen to the expectation, especially Michael Williams as the Baker, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as the Baker’s Wife, and Lynn Sherman as the Witch. Michael and Menchu made the “It Takes Two” duet sweet and endearing, and Menchu brought the house down with her no-nonsense, hilarious delivery of “Moments in the Woods.” Meanwhile, Lynn Sherman’s overprotective Witch earned my sympathies with her lament for Rapunzel’s death in Act II.
So, would you have your favorite fairy tales messed up? For the lessons on becoming a better parent or a better child, or for wishing for more than what you have, yes—because, more than anything, Into the Woods can evoke an epiphany of sorts. As for the entertainment, what else is there to guarantee? It was a nostalgic ride back to my childhood, only with a lot of twists and turns that makes the story more interesting, and the songs more humorous and down-to-earth. Not to mention I can’t get the princes’ funny “Agony” duet out of my mind!
New Voice Company’s Into the Woods is on a limited run at the Music Museum in Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan, from November 9 to December 10 (Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm). Tickets can be availed online at www.ticketworld.com.ph, or call the Ticketworld Head Office at 891-9999.
