Into the Woods
at Corona del Mar HS

Reviewed on March 31, 2017

Juli Nazzario
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Corona Del Mar's "Into the Woods" is enchanting
written by Juli Nazzario, a senior at Tesoro High School

Filled with princesses, princes, and fanciful witches, Corona Del Mar brings the classic fairytale characters to life in their fantastical production of "Into the Woods."

"Into the Woods" follows a baker and his wife as they hurriedly try to undo a curse a witch has placed on their family. Along the way, they run into classic fairytale characters and realize that happily ever after has unforeseen consequences.

As the Witch, Violette Remington embodies a typical storybook witch complete with a hunched back and cackling laugh. She handles the transition from an ugly, old hag into a beautiful, young witch with grace, straightening her posture and walking with elegance.

The Baker's Wife is played by Annika Quist. Whether aggressively trying to get a shoe off of Cinderella or rolling onstage kissing Cinderella's Prince, Quist puts real emotion behind each action her character does. Her deeper vocals nicely contrast Cinderella's shrill voice.

Makena Harper plays the humble and kind-hearted Cinderella. Her sweet, melodic soprano vocals match the sweetness of her character. Going from rags to riches in a matter of seconds, she handles the transition from low class to high class effortlessly. Her posture straightens up and she has more of a regal walk when she wears the ball gown.

Cinderella's Prince (Blake Weise) and Rapunzel's Prince (Joshua Flores) work together to create a dynamic duo. Cinderella's Prince uses a dramatically raised eyebrow, ever-present smirk, and deep voice to portray a vain and charming character. Rapunzel's Prince is more subdued and is a perfect foil to Cinderella's Prince's cockiness. In "Agony," the two princes comedically fight over who has more troubles while they throw their hands in the air, try to outdo each other's vocals, and stand in distress.

Violette Remington's costume design captures the essence of each character. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are dressed in gaudy, poofy dresses that compliment the obnoxiousness of their characters. While the Witch's dark green dress and haunting black cape help portray her wickedness, Rapunzel's cheery, floral dress mirrors the innocence of her character.

With magical characters and fanciful costumes, Corona Del Mar's "Into the Woods" goes beyond the classic fairy tales to create a whimsical production that shows that happily ever after may not be so happy after all.

Juli Nazzario
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Corona Del Mar's "Into the Woods" is enchanting
written by Juli Nazzario, a senior at Tesoro High School

Filled with princesses, princes, and fanciful witches, Corona Del Mar brings the classic fairytale characters to life in their fantastical production of "Into the Woods."

"Into the Woods" follows a baker and his wife as they hurriedly try to undo a curse a witch has placed on their family. Along the way, they run into classic fairytale characters and realize that happily ever after has unforeseen consequences.

As the Witch, Violette Remington embodies a typical storybook witch complete with a hunched back and cackling laugh. She handles the transition from an ugly, old hag into a beautiful, young witch with grace, straightening her posture and walking with elegance.

The Baker's Wife is played by Annika Quist. Whether aggressively trying to get a shoe off of Cinderella or rolling onstage kissing Cinderella's Prince, Quist puts real emotion behind each action her character does. Her deeper vocals nicely contrast Cinderella's shrill voice.

Makena Harper plays the humble and kind-hearted Cinderella. Her sweet, melodic soprano vocals match the sweetness of her character. Going from rags to riches in a matter of seconds, she handles the transition from low class to high class effortlessly. Her posture straightens up and she has more of a regal walk when she wears the ball gown.

Cinderella's Prince (Blake Weise) and Rapunzel's Prince (Joshua Flores) work together to create a dynamic duo. Cinderella's Prince uses a dramatically raised eyebrow, ever-present smirk, and deep voice to portray a vain and charming character. Rapunzel's Prince is more subdued and is a perfect foil to Cinderella's Prince's cockiness. In "Agony," the two princes comedically fight over who has more troubles while they throw their hands in the air, try to outdo each other's vocals, and stand in distress.

Violette Remington's costume design captures the essence of each character. Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are dressed in gaudy, poofy dresses that compliment the obnoxiousness of their characters. While the Witch's dark green dress and haunting black cape help portray her wickedness, Rapunzel's cheery, floral dress mirrors the innocence of her character.

With magical characters and fanciful costumes, Corona Del Mar's "Into the Woods" goes beyond the classic fairy tales to create a whimsical production that shows that happily ever after may not be so happy after all.

Sharon Chen
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Poignantly masterful, Corona del Mar High journeys "Into the Woods"
written by Sharon Chen, a junior from Fountain Valley High School

For dreamers and believers alike, fairy tales offer empowerment, inspiring the possibility of a "happily ever after" to come into full fruition. That is, until reality rears its ugly head and threatens to shatter those wistful hopes. With brilliant performances by the cast and crew of Corona del Mar High, the realms of fantasy and reality align to create a story centered on achieving a happy ending through unconditional sacrifice and an unfailing strive.

Falling short of that notion is the Baker and his wife, a loving couple who longs for a child that they have been cursed to never bear. After an encounter with the witch responsible for their infertility, the couple embark on a harrowing quest through the woods to fetch certain objects of the witch's demands in an exchange for her to lift their curse. Little do they know that as they complete their journey, they inadvertently set off a chain of events which veer close to destroying the very happiness they value.

With the promise of fulfillment just beyond his reach, Matthew Beyrooty as the Baker is a marvel to watch. Beyrooty as the Baker delivers an impactful performance with his ability to manifest deep emotion, especially evident as he takes on the stage in a singing of "No More," a pivotal point where he finally realizes his innate capability to become his own version of a hero.

As the baker's most passionate supporter, Annika Quist plays his wife— confident, graceful, and a true vision to admire. A force to be reckoned with, Quist falls nowhere short of phenomenal as she effortlessly sings "Moment in the Woods," convincing herself to seize each moment for what it is rather than give in to reluctant hesitation.

Expertly complementing the personas of each character, the costume designs (Violette Remington) offer a tangible glimpse of each role's development within the tale. First, donning the witch in dark green and black to symbolize her wickedness, a notable transformation takes place as the witch transitions into clothing of lighter hues, a representation of her ultimate loss of evil power.

Brimming with undeniable splendor, the cast and crew of Corona del Mar High explore the sacredness contained in even the tiniest sliver of happiness, encouraging all who come across it to capture the sensation before it fleets into obscurity.

Sharon Chen
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Poignantly masterful, Corona del Mar High journeys "Into the Woods"
written by Sharon Chen, a junior from Fountain Valley High School

For dreamers and believers alike, fairy tales offer empowerment, inspiring the possibility of a "happily ever after" to come into full fruition. That is, until reality rears its ugly head and threatens to shatter those wistful hopes. With brilliant performances by the cast and crew of Corona del Mar High, the realms of fantasy and reality align to create a story centered on achieving a happy ending through unconditional sacrifice and an unfailing strive.

Falling short of that notion is the Baker and his wife, a loving couple who longs for a child that they have been cursed to never bear. After an encounter with the witch responsible for their infertility, the couple embark on a harrowing quest through the woods to fetch certain objects of the witch's demands in an exchange for her to lift their curse. Little do they know that as they complete their journey, they inadvertently set off a chain of events which veer close to destroying the very happiness they value.

With the promise of fulfillment just beyond his reach, Matthew Beyrooty as the Baker is a marvel to watch. Beyrooty as the Baker delivers an impactful performance with his ability to manifest deep emotion, especially evident as he takes on the stage in a singing of "No More," a pivotal point where he finally realizes his innate capability to become his own version of a hero.

As the baker's most passionate supporter, Annika Quist plays his wife— confident, graceful, and a true vision to admire. A force to be reckoned with, Quist falls nowhere short of phenomenal as she effortlessly sings "Moment in the Woods," convincing herself to seize each moment for what it is rather than give in to reluctant hesitation.

Expertly complementing the personas of each character, the costume designs (Violette Remington) offer a tangible glimpse of each role's development within the tale. First, donning the witch in dark green and black to symbolize her wickedness, a notable transformation takes place as the witch transitions into clothing of lighter hues, a representation of her ultimate loss of evil power.

Brimming with undeniable splendor, the cast and crew of Corona del Mar High explore the sacredness contained in even the tiniest sliver of happiness, encouraging all who come across it to capture the sensation before it fleets into obscurity.

Elena Plumb
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook Page

Follow CDMHS on a journey "Into the Woods"
written by Elena Plumb, a sophomore at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Once upon a time, in a quaint village near the foreboding woods, a once-beautiful witch casts a spell upon the cottage of a baker and his wife, preventing them from having a child. To lift the spell, the baker and his wife must venture into the woods to fetch items the witch pleads for, encountering several classic characters along the way. In this magical convergence of childhood fairytales, CDMHS takes us on a whimsical journey "into the woods," complete with plenty of heartfelt and comedic moments.

Violette Remington is brilliantly wicked as the Witch, hobbling across the stage as she demands for the items that can restore her beauty. With a harsh tone of voice and a consistent grimace, she perfectly captures her character's miserable aura.

Makena Harper portrays Cinderella with a wishful spirit and lovely voice. Though an initially submissive servant to her evil step-family, Harper's increasingly strong presence demonstrates her character's transition into a poised, empowered princess.

Matthew Beyrooty is outstanding as the lovable baker, delivering an incredibly moving performance in the emotional ballad "No More." Alongside the baker is his wife (Annika Quist), whose strong voice and purposeful movements emphasize her determined attitude as she insists on helping retrieve items to reverse the spell.

Andres Delgado embodies an optimistic child as Jack, leaping among the clouds while belting "Giants in the Sky." Also capturing the sprightliness of a child is Crystal Hernandez as Little Red Ridinghood, singing in an adorably high voice and skipping through the woods.

Stealing the show is the dynamic duo of Cinderella's Prince (Blake Weise) and Rapunzel's Prince (Joshua Flores). The two egocentric princes compliment each other perfectly, especially in their lament "Agony."

Sound by Nathan Fallahi and Emma Fellows is clear throughout, and impeccably timed as the Baker drops magical beans one by one into Jack's hands.

Props by Alex Munro are crafted with beautiful detail, especially in the case of the hand-carved Witch's staff.

Elaborate costumes by Violette Remington represent character personalities and transformations successfully. The witch wears a tattered cape as a haggard woman, yet she wears a bright green gown when she regains her beauty. Additionally, costumes distinguish social class, with Cinderella wearing rags while her stepsisters saunter in extravagant dresses.

Spellbinding, exciting, and bewitching, CDMHS teaches valuable life lessons and ensures a magical, entertaining experience for all. The end.

Elena Plumb
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook Page

Follow CDMHS on a journey "Into the Woods"
written by Elena Plumb, a sophomore at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Once upon a time, in a quaint village near the foreboding woods, a once-beautiful witch casts a spell upon the cottage of a baker and his wife, preventing them from having a child. To lift the spell, the baker and his wife must venture into the woods to fetch items the witch pleads for, encountering several classic characters along the way. In this magical convergence of childhood fairytales, CDMHS takes us on a whimsical journey "into the woods," complete with plenty of heartfelt and comedic moments.

Violette Remington is brilliantly wicked as the Witch, hobbling across the stage as she demands for the items that can restore her beauty. With a harsh tone of voice and a consistent grimace, she perfectly captures her character's miserable aura.

Makena Harper portrays Cinderella with a wishful spirit and lovely voice. Though an initially submissive servant to her evil step-family, Harper's increasingly strong presence demonstrates her character's transition into a poised, empowered princess.

Matthew Beyrooty is outstanding as the lovable baker, delivering an incredibly moving performance in the emotional ballad "No More." Alongside the baker is his wife (Annika Quist), whose strong voice and purposeful movements emphasize her determined attitude as she insists on helping retrieve items to reverse the spell.

Andres Delgado embodies an optimistic child as Jack, leaping among the clouds while belting "Giants in the Sky." Also capturing the sprightliness of a child is Crystal Hernandez as Little Red Ridinghood, singing in an adorably high voice and skipping through the woods.

Stealing the show is the dynamic duo of Cinderella's Prince (Blake Weise) and Rapunzel's Prince (Joshua Flores). The two egocentric princes compliment each other perfectly, especially in their lament "Agony."

Sound by Nathan Fallahi and Emma Fellows is clear throughout, and impeccably timed as the Baker drops magical beans one by one into Jack's hands.

Props by Alex Munro are crafted with beautiful detail, especially in the case of the hand-carved Witch's staff.

Elaborate costumes by Violette Remington represent character personalities and transformations successfully. The witch wears a tattered cape as a haggard woman, yet she wears a bright green gown when she regains her beauty. Additionally, costumes distinguish social class, with Cinderella wearing rags while her stepsisters saunter in extravagant dresses.

Spellbinding, exciting, and bewitching, CDMHS teaches valuable life lessons and ensures a magical, entertaining experience for all. The end.