Into the Woods
at Bishop O'Connell High School

Reviewed on April 8, 2017

Emily Lachow
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Our story begins as the characters enter the mysterious landscape of the woods, singing a song of their deepest wishes in the pursuit of happily ever after. However, what happens when as soon as they've reached their happy ending, the looming shadow of a giant threatens to crush their dreams underfoot? Bishop O'Connell's Into the Woods proved that in the absence of a fairytale ending, all that matters is that no one is alone.

Into the Woods bewitched its first audience in 1986 at San Diego's Old Globe Theater, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical subsequently made its Broadway debut in the following year, where it garnered Tony Awards for Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical for Joanna Gleason's performance of The Baker's Wife. Into the Woods has since been revived numerous times, with a high-grossing film adaptation released in 2014. The premise follows numerous storybook characters, such as Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, and a married couple of bakers, who journey into the woods to fulfill their deepest wishes. However, the woods possess a hidden darkness that can tear their wishes from their grasp, transforming their happy little lives into something halfway between a nightmare and a dream.

As the leading duo, Daniel Herrarias (The Baker) and Elise Welsh (The Baker's Wife) provided an endearing performance together, best demonstrated during "It Takes Two." Herrarias and Welsh both had consistently strong vocals and a believable marriage. Welsh additionally breathed life into her character by using versatile yet effective facial expressions, and giving a particularly impactful performance during her death scene.

Contrasting the righteous moral compass of the other characters, Jessica Gliot as the Witch blurred the line between good and bad with impressive emotional dexterity. Her commitment to her character, especially given the difficulty of the role, should be acknowledged. Anthony Socarras' performance of The Wolf also demonstrated devotion to his role, with a spirited rendition of "Hello Little Girl" that had the audience quaking in their seats. Adding some much-needed comedic relief to the production was Jeffrey Hales' Mysterious Man and Victoria Gordon's Granny, who approached their limited stage-time with memorably energetic performances. Campbell Hodges (Little Red Ridinghood) and Paul Bean (Jack) rounded out the ensemble with their childish demeanor, having a dynamic relationship onstage that was enjoyable to watch.

Any production of Into the Woods would not be complete without the woods itself, and the Bishop O'Connell set design team's interpretation was impressively on the mark. They struck a beautiful balance between intricacy and functionality that enhanced the action onstage. The props department displayed a similar attention to detail; during the opening scene, the baker was kneading dough, and commendably realistic loaves surrounded him. Another notable technical element was the costumes, which were almost entirely student done, the most impressive of which being the detailed and well-constructed garment of Cinderella's ball gown. Overall, the technical aspects did a seamless job of plunging the audience into the world of the woods.

Careful the things you say, children will listen; Bishop O'Connell's production of Into the Woods had its audience of children and adults alike hanging on every word. With a show as gold as Cinderella's shoe, these students beautifully weaved a story of wishes, heartbreak, and the reality of a storybook ending.

Margie Greer
J.E.B. Stuart High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Where does magic live? Bishop O'Connell High School invites you Into the Woods of the classic Stephen Sondheim musical. Into the Woods premiered on Broadway in 1987, and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning best score, best book, and best actress in a musical. Into the Woods has continued to gain popularity with a Broadway revival in 2002, and a movie adaptation starring James Corden and Anna Kendrick in 2014.

The musical intertwines the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel with that of a Baker and his wife who long to have a child. After learning that his family has been cursed by a witch (Jessica Gliot) to be barren, The Baker (Daniel Herrarias) and his wife (Elise Welsh) set out to undo the curse. Along the way, they meet a boy trying to sell his cow, a girl on her way to Granny's, and a young woman running from a prince.

Herrarias and Welsh led the cast with their outstanding chemistry and ability to create believable moments of tenderness, as well as ones of anger and frustration. Their duet "It Takes Two" showed off both actors' singing and acting skills, as well as some adorable choreography. Welsh also proved herself vocally with an outstanding performance of "Moments in the Woods."

Sondheim's music is incredibly vocally demanding, but Gliot as the Witch took it in stride showing excellent dynamic range. She portrayed the Witch as a multi-dimensional character, showing her not only as a fearsome sorceress, but also a well-intentioned mother who truly loves her child.

Campbell Hodges as Little Red Ridinghood brought an instant bolt of energy to every scene she was in. With consistent characterization, she effortlessly portrayed both the humorous and more serious moments her character faced, all the while maintaining a childlike demeanor. She always remained engaged and a joy to watch on stage.

Other standouts included Victoria Gordon's hilarious portrayal of Little Red Ridinghood's kooky, somewhat bloodthirsty Granny, that left the audience howling with laughter. Miranda Smith as Jack's frustrated, but ultimately very caring and protective mother also gave an engaging performance. Peter Lucas and Vasili Varfis as Cinderella and Rapunzel's princes, respectively, gave a thoroughly enjoyable, hammed up performance of "Agony," complete with gratuitous pining and shirt ripping.

The costumes added to the fantastical atmosphere of the performance, as well as showing the distinct divide between the upper class and the peasants. One of the most impressive costume pieces was Cinderella's ball gown. Made completely from scratch, the gown shimmered with every movement, looking like it had come straight out of a fairy tale. The Witch's costume included an impressive latex mask to create a hooked nose and warts, as well as a ratty grey wig, which gave a fearsome Medusa effect. The hair and makeup team also created an over 15-foot-long braid for Rapunzel, that included several parts that detached on stage.

The set and lighting placed the show in the sometimes scary, sometimes welcoming, fairy tale woods. The set also included multiple levels allowing for freedom of movement, and interesting stage pictures.

With engaging performances, and dramatic costuming and other technical elements, Bishop O'Connell's magical production of Into the Woods brought to life the classic theme of wishes, and their resulting consequences.

Katherine Kelly
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

A prince pursuing a beautiful princess. Golden hair falling from a tower. A bean stalk that reaches to the clouds. Bishop O'Connell High School's "Into the Woods" turns a stage into a fairy tale, but be careful what you wish for because not everyone can live happily ever after.

The lovable story of Into the Woods was born from the combination of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales. The musical premiered in 1986 with a book by James Lapine and songs by Stephen Sondheim, opening on Broadway the following year. Experiencing immense success, the musical has seen movie adaptions as well as Broadway revival tours. The musical follows the story of The Baker and The Baker's Wife, a couple who can't fulfill their wish for a child because of a curse. They go on a journey to find unusual items for a witch in order to lift the curse. As dreams unwind and wishes are fulfilled, the story delves further than it's magical exterior into a thought provoking story.

Playing The Baker was Daniel Herrarias, who took on a fantastic energy in order to suit his character's journey, demonstrating emotional depth and impressing with his enjoyable vocals. The Baker's Wife, played by Elise Welsh, completed the leading duo well, with expressive facials, a pleasant voice, and composed acting creating a compelling character. The couple possessed a lovable and realistic chemistry, especially noticeable in their energized rendition of "It Takes Two". Their enthralling antagonist, The Witch, was played by Jessica Gliot. Gliot demonstrated a wide emotional range, creating a dynamic and engaging character. On their quest, the Baker and his wife run into a gaggle of well known fairy tale characters. Upon meeting Little Red Riding Hood, played by Campbell Hodges, a fun element was added to the production through Hodges' consistent energy and entertaining character choices.

What is Little Red Riding Hood without a Big Bad Wolf? Anthony Socarras, playing the wolf, was energetic and fun, eliciting bouts of laughter during his scenes. Victoria Gordon, playing Granny, completed Little Red Riding Hood's segment with her lively expression immediately drawing attention. As more fairy tale stories unwinded, Rapunzel played by Besa Bucaj came into play. Bucaj's lovely voice carried down from her tall tower as she embodied a lovely princess, then later in the performance brought forth another side through her hilarious transformation. The enticing story was made complete by Mysterious Man, played by Jeffrey Hales. As he wandered through the woods scaring passers and sometimes providing help, Hales' comedic timing and consistent character was sure to impress.

Bringing a storybook onto stage and magic into the production were impressive technical elements, enhancing the traditional fairy tale aspects of the performance. A variety of impressive costumes adorned the stage, including a sweeping 14 layer ball gown adorning Cinderella and a detailed dress for Little Red Riding Hood. Creative and well constructed set pieces opened the story in a small town, with the pieces then moving to reveal the mysterious woods. Lighting helped to focus in on different moods based on the use of different colors, and detailed props made scenes clear and were consistently realistic.

Bishop O'Connell High School's unforgettable performance of "Into the Woods" brings a fairy tale to life. As each character pursues their own happy ending, an adventure unfolds as the refreshing musical explores the consequences of a wish.

Annie Parnell
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

Grab your basket of goodies, your magic beans, and your enchanted slippers — it's time to venture "Into the Woods" with the cast and crew of Bishop O'Connell High School.

With a book written by James Lapine and music and lyrics composed by Stephen Sondheim, "Into the Woods" combines the original story of a childless baker and his wife with classic fairy tales such as "Cinderella," "Rapunzel," and "Little Red Riding Hood," turning "happily ever after" on its head through the central theme of wishes and their unforeseen consequences. A bold pick for a high school cast, the show has become a classic of the genre, winning five Tony Awards since its original run and being adapted for the small and big screens in 1991 and 2014 respectively.

The students of Bishop O'Connell have crafted an impressive performance of this production, presenting a show that brings well-known stories to life with an inventive twist. Maintaining energy and pace despite notoriously daunting music, the "Into the Woods" cast made certain that the audience was held under their spell until the show's end.

Daniel Herrarias and Elise Welsh made a charming leading duo as The Baker and his Wife, displaying prowess individually and combining to form a strong collaborative dynamic. In their giddy duet "It Takes Two," the couple radiated tenderness and joy, discovering together how their adventures in the woods had rekindled the flame between them. Welsh later stood out in solo number "Moment in the Woods," commanding the stage with presence and vocals.

The ensemble-based story line of "Into the Woods" demands a diverse cast of supporting characters, and the students of Bishop O'Connell did not disappoint. As the Witch, Jessica Gliot charmed the audience, wowing in numbers such as "The Last Midnight." Campbell Hodges was sprightly and chipper as Little Red Riding Hood, coming of age with skill throughout her time on stage. Jeffrey Hales' role as the Mysterious Man brought laughs with physical characterization and comedic expertise, acting as a focal point of comedic relief.

An immersive woodland set, created by Jessica Gliot, Conor Maguire, Eleanor Vaughn and Matthew Atienza, formed powerful stage pictures and ensured that the show's fairy tale world came to life. Detailed costumes, such as a Cinderella ballgown inlaid with Swarovski crystals, created an onstage aura of dreamlike delight.

Bishop O'Connell's bright performance of "Into the Woods" was impressive and energetic, a commendable presentation of a noteworthy classic. As the company came together for the Act II Finale, the audience was truly reminded that even on the most fantastic of journeys, no one is alone.

Ruthie Miller
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

Into the Woods is a show that artfully intertwines multiple fairy tales to create a fun but also twisted story. The show is written by James Lapine, with music done by Stephen Sondheim, who is known for his amazing but also difficult songs and orchestral parts. The show originally premiered on Broadway in 1987, winning numerous Tony awards and other great recognition. The show has had multiple revivals and a blockbuster movie made, so the popularity of this show still lives on.

The plot of this show centers around the Baker and his wife. The couple cannot conceive a child, and find out soon that this is because of a curse that the witch next door placed on the Baker's family. The couple sets off into the woods to find the ingredients to break the spell, while running into the other many characters. Little red riding hood has a fall in with the wolf before the Baker saves her, Jack acquires magical beans from the Baker, and Cinderella converses with the Baker's wife while running away from the prince.

The witch longs for these ingredients so that she can regain her youth and beauty, and this comes true, as well as the wishes for almost everyone else in the show. Their luck seems to run out in the second act when a giant seeking vengeance against Jack shows up terrorize the villages and woods where the characters live. What follows is a scene of death and sacrifice, followed by the realization that no one is alone.

Bishop O'Connell's production of Into the Woods perfectly captured the whimsical atmosphere of this made up land. The set was detailed and worked perfectly with the characters, and the props were all spot on, showing the commitment made to this show by the crew. Daniel Herrarias (Baker) and Elise Welsh (Baker's wife) shined in all of their moments on stage. Both actors had strong voices and the ability to keep the show moving and engaging, this was especially shown in their song, It Takes Two.

Another standout performer was Jessica Gliot (The Witch). Gliot had the task of performing the most difficult songs in the whole show, and she performed them with great beauty and ease. Her constant commitment to character and physicalization of the Witch kept the audiences eyes on her anytime she was on stage. Another commendable performance was that of Campbell Hodges (Little Red Riding Hood). Hodges had the perfect delivery of a young child, and her character voice and persona never wavered for a second. Every scene that she was in, she worked well with whoever was on stage with and she added new dimensions to her character.

Bishop O'Connell's performance of Into the Woods captured audiences and transported them to this make believe fantasy world that the characters lived in. The vocals in the show were very strong, and the acting remained consistent across the board. The overall quality of the show from sets to actors to costumes was very good, and the school accomplished the goal of putting on such a hard show perfectly.