Originally published by L.S. Media. December 18th 2011.
L.S. Media Rating ****
Cast: Jack McGraa, Elen Royles, Solomon Andrews, Elena Stephenson, Mark Rawle, Tash Hutchinson, Ellie Gray, Andrew Abrahamson, Sarah Brown, Stephanie Minshall, Camillie Machin, Jenny Martyn, Jack Malone, Jamie Barfield, Andy Godden, Frankie Burke, Rebecca Patterson, Shaun Holdom-Eyles.
Orchestra: Michael Bourne, Tom Sutherland-Grant, Tony Shorrocks, Sophie Patterson, Connie Hilton, James Warwick, Paul Fegan, Christian Ryan, Nicola Rossiter, David Mintz, Jonas Tattersall, Karolina Hentze, Misery Steele, Simeon Scheuber, Harry Leather, Matt Filer.
To take on anything as wondrous and creatively startling as Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods takes imagination, guile and musicians and actors working in tandem with no room for error.
The production team behind the theatre company, What We Did Next, did all that and added a spark of genial and likeable ability that some productions in the past have left at the stage door. This though was no ordinary setting for one of the most original plays written in recent times. To be in the Black-E with its sense of history, (previously a Methodist Church) pouring through every gap and pore could be a daunting affair for those on stage and in the orchestra, however there could be no doubting the effort and incredible displays by all involved.
Into The Woods is the kind of amalgamation of all the fairy stories you may have heard as a child. With characters being dropped in from Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk; the analogies are too easy to delve into. The thoughts of where the play may go, too subtle but at every turn the audience who arrived at the Black-E with any preconceptions were soon to be left at the back of the stalls as they realised the complexities of the narrative and the insatiable and moving music framing the whole story.
Amongst a stand out and incredible cast was Mark Rawle as the Narrator and the Mysterious Man, whose vocal style was reminiscent of listening to the enjoyable voice of Grif Ryhs Jones. The wonderful voice of Jenny Martyn whose singing was a pure delight, Franki Burke as Little Red Riding Hood and even though only on stage in character for a short while, a huge thumbs up to Shaun Holdom-Eyles as the very debonair Wolf. The surreal dance scene between the Wolf and Red Riding Hood was a delight to behold!
Much must be said of the Orchestra’s personnel, led fantastically by Musical Director Madeleine Stones. Her tight grip on the musical arrangements was beyond reproach and the sound that was produced, in other hands, could have sounded bland and disorganised. In Ms Stones’ hands the orchestra sounded fantastic. With special emphasis on the brass section which was a player down and various members were in effect doubling up. An amazing result!
A rather wonderful play and it’s a shame that the performances were limited to four days and therefore giving no chance for more of Liverpool’s large contingent of theatre goers to take in and explore this sensational production.
Ian D. Hall