Into the Woods
at Riverside High School

Reviewed on April 29, 2016

Sarah Santoro
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Fairy tales paint an appealing, albeit predictable, picture of life. Good always triumphs over evil, true love always prevails, and endings will always be happy. But in their entertaining and artful production of Into the Woods, the cast and crew of Riverside High School tore down the myth of the fairy tale and showed that we are the ones who tell our own stories and endings are what we make of them.

Now a popular choice for professional and amateur theatre companies alike, Into the Woods, with book by James Paine and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, debuted at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986. The Broadway production that opened in November of 1987 won a number of Tony Awards, including Best Score and Best Book. A 2014 film adaptation from director Rob Marshall was nominated for multiple Golden Globes and Academy Awards, a testament to the enduring popularity of the musical.

The story follows a baker and his wife as they set out on a quest to reverse a curse that has left them childless. Their journey takes them into the woods where they encounter familiar characters like Cinderella and Jack (the giant-slaying beanstalk climber). Along the way, the characters unwittingly incur the wrath of a giant who begins wreaking havoc on the kingdom. They discover that, despite what the stories say, charming princes and golden harps come with their own share of woes and wishes aren't always what they seem.

Earnest and endearing, Joshua Wisdom inhabited the role of the Baker naturally and without pretension. He and Amanda Hampton, as the Baker's Wife, created a playful, winning relationship that came across as real and unaffected. Though clearly adept at portraying the bumbling, amusing side of the character, Wisdom also displayed his ability to handle more dramatic scenes, his emotional turmoil palpable and riveting as the Baker struggles to come to terms with himself, grappling with guilt and faced by a responsibility that seems insurmountable.

In the role of the Witch, Sarah Katherine Lawless proved herself to be one of the show's strongest vocalists, her impressive voice especially powerful in her chilling performance of "The Last Midnight." Rather than simplifying the Witch to just her cackle and crooked posture, Lawless tempered the cartoonish elements by grounding her portrayal in consistent characterization and honest emotion, crafting a comedic but ultimately complex and challenging character.

As the charming but hopelessly womanizing princes trying desperately to sweep Cinderella and Rapunzel off their feet, Jeyhan Turker and Jack Gutierrez took advantage of every opportunity for comedy. Their vain, self-indulgent mannerisms and competitive dynamic were especially clear in their hilarious performance of "Agony" as each character tried to upstage the other, working well as individuals and even better as a team.

Although some lapses with microphones, rushed diction, and subdued reactions to deaths meant a few chances for dramatic moments were missed, the cast's impressive ability to blend the comedic and the emotional with equal mastery kept the performance compelling.

Whimsical and charming, the set made clever use of multiple levels to accentuate and elevate the action of the production. The quaint cottages, regal towers and palace steps, and fanciful trees looked straight from the pages of a storybook.

Standout vocal performances and convincing, winning characterization enhanced by imaginative tech displayed the talent and creativity of the cast and crew of the spellbinding production of Into the Woods. In their enchanting performance, the students of Riverside High School brought life to the idea that sometimes a happy ending isn't as valuable as an authentic one.

Lily Brock
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

You know, deep down, whether you'll admit it or not, that you just want that storybook ending. Break the curse. Throw a ring on the prince (or princess). Slay the giant. Well, according to Riverside High School's production of "Into the Woods", you may not be considering that happy ending in its entirety. In a production driven by organic enthusiasm and obvious talent, Riverside's Moon River Productions turned out a stellar show.

Premiering in 1986, "Into the Woods" boasts music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Featuring an array of beloved fairytale characters, the story follows its fictional favorites--as suggested by the title-- Into the Woods--as they each attempt to achieve their wishes. The songs and stories question the legitimacy of the conventional happy ending. Well-loved and generally lauded as a triumph of musical theatre, the musical has seen countless productions globally and was recently released as a feature film.

Sarah Katherine Lawless anchored the production as the witch. With hard-driving vocals, Lawless lent a keen comic sense to her first scenes as a hunched, hook-nosed hag. Lawless's performance, however, went far beyond the one dimensional. In numbers such as "Last Midnight," Lawless's belt filled the space, rich in power and poignancy. The Baker's Wife, played by Amanda Hampton, delivered refreshing spirit and shared strong chemistry with Joshua Wisdom in his portrayal of the Baker. Wisdom tapped into an emotional vulnerability in later numbers such as "No One is Alone" as he pondered the unvarnished reality of "happy ever after." Meghan Muldoon as Cinderella brought the laughs with a stunt fall, all-the-while clad in a giant, golden gown. Muldoon gave new meaning to the princess's midnight marathon, suggesting that not all those who run wish to be caught. Like her counterparts, Muldoon infused the role with complexity, delving deeper into the psyche of a well-known character.

As Jack, Noah Hamade was a genuine pleasure to watch. With the unabashed enthusiasm of your favorite little cousin, Hamade was as earnest as he was dynamic. In her portrayal of Little Red Riding Hood, Taylor Desimone gave a lovable take on the little girl, lending the role its fair share of sass and a dash of petulance. In the audience favorite, "Agony," Jeyhan Turker and Jack Gutierrez peacocked about like two recently scorned boy band members. Turker brought the sleaze further in later scenes as the charming, yet unfaithful prince.

The sets were stellar, the majority of the action taking place in front of scaffolding covered with earthy browns and greens. A movable grand staircase and other household flats were adeptly maneuvered by the run crew. The Witch's fake nose added an enlarged element of fairytale to each scene in which it protruded from behind her black cloak.

Ultimately, the show was grounded by the individual talent of each cast member. Funny at times. Poignant at others. The production proved that happy endings have false starts and unexpected pitfalls, but, sooner or later, they'll catch up with you. So, Into the woods we go. Any takers?

Emma Parsons
Heritage High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

I Wish! This is the sentiment that began and concluded the Production of "Into the Woods" at Riverside High school. Opening on Broadway in 1987 this Sondheim classic garnered rave reviews and won several Tony awards. This classic musical is full of wit, whimsy and of course beautiful music. This is exactly what was delivered at the brand new Riverside High School.

This Sondheim classic was supported by a cast full of energy. For such a challenging piece of theatre, Riverside High School faced the challenge head on. This rendition was noteworthy, with an eye-catching set and a Dazzling cast of characters. The production left the audience with a beautiful sentiment; "No one is alone".

"It takes two" to create such believable onstage chemistry. The baker played by, Joshua Wisdom and his wife played by Amanda Hampton had an endearing relationship that read with true realism. As they went deeper and deeper into the woods their relationship as husband and wife got stronger and stronger. With a combination of fatherly and adventurous qualities Joshua Wisdoms created a protagonist to root for, along with his determined wife, portrayed by Amanda Hampton. These two displayed a dynamic marriage. This husband and wife duo left the audience tearful with their performance of "No One is Alone".

Giants were falling from the sky due to the boyish adventure of Jack, portrayed by Noah Hamades. Noah Hamades' performance was carried out with the quintessential boyish charm and childlike wonder that would be expected from the boy who climbed the stalk. Cinderella did indeed lose her shoe, but not her enchanting voice. The role of the indecisive, full of heart Cinderella is quite demanding, however Meghan Muldoon rose up to that challenge beautifully. Both Cinderella's Prince played by Jeyhan Turker and Rapunzel's Prince played by Jack Gutierrez were hysterical. In the piece "Agony" the two princes would each try to trump each other's struggle. The audience would be in stitches every time they stormed the stage with their royal confidence.

The woods were truly enchanting, with the blue moon at the center of it. The beautiful forest scenery was supported by intricate costumes. Microphones flickered in and out occasionally, but that was quickly remedied by projection by the cast. The use of lighting was striking during the powerful number of the Witches' "Last Midnight" artfully belted by Sarah Katherine Lawless.

This heartwarming tale of a fairy tale unraveled was a delight at Riverside High School. Just remember: Be careful what you wish for.

Aiden Carroll
Heritage High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

"I Wish…" The anaphoric phrase rings out over and over again in the quiet theatre. A quick introduction to a cast of characters, the grand curtain opens, and suddenly we've all been whisked away to the Wood. Written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine in 1986, Into the Woods became a quick favorite amongst musical theatre aficionados everywhere--between the beautiful score, intriguing script, and timeless plot, Into the Woods has captivated audiences for 30 years now. The story follows several fairytale characters through one overarching journey into the woods, complete with romance, comedy, and tragedy. Riverside High School's production of Into the Woods continued this legacy, retaining the signature moments of the show while putting their own spin on this classic musical.

In every meaning of the phrase, Into the Woods is the quintessential ensemble show--the students at Riverside HS not only met this expectation, but surpassed it entirely. Each individual character blended seamlessly into the whole, moving in near perfect unison and striking harmonies tight enough to ensnare the audience for the lengthy performance. This sort of cooperation was highly impressive; however, the individualization of each personality within the ensemble was what truly captivated. In numbers like "No One is Alone", individual characters such as Cinderella (Meghan Muldoon) and the Baker (Joshua Wisdom) came together in harmony while retaining their own singularity.

Amanda Hampton's performance as the ever-gentle Baker's Wife was a standout from the beginning--from her first entrance, Hampton carried herself with the air of a weary, middle-aged woman. During group numbers, Hampton blended into the ensemble of characters, contributing to musical gems such as the Prologue. On her own, however, Hampton completely transformed into the Baker's Wife, perfectly contrasting comedic moments with her character's overarching woe. In solo numbers such as "Moments in the Woods," Hampton coupled standout vocals with extensive characterization to create a truly hypnotic performance.

The Marketing and Publicity Team at Riverside HS, run by Joshua Wisdom, led a strong effort to publicize this performance both near and far. In its first year, Riverside HS still lacks the "cult following" that many older high schools in the area enjoy (i.e. alumni who come to see every show). However, Wisdom's team took to social media and the streets of Leesburg to publicize this performance, tweeting pictures nearly everyday and distributing a-frames throughout the Leesburg / Lansdowne area. During the Friday night performance, their 1,000+ seat auditorium was nearly filled to capacity--a somewhat magical feat, in and of itself.

Overall, Riverside HS' production of Into the Woods was a performance rife with whimsy, emotion, and talent. It is a well-known stigma amongst young actors that Sondheim spells certain doom for a high school show: between the tight harmonies, lengthy score, and incredibly complex characterization, many young actors struggle to fully convey the meaning of Sondheim's pieces. However, Riverside has set a new precedent for high school theatre, proving that if you truly wish for something, it may just come true.