Into the Woods
at St. Margaret's Episcopal

Reviewed on March 23, 2019

Cameron Newman
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Saint Margaret's "Into the Woods" casts a spell
written by Cameron Newman, a junior at San Juan Hills High School

Filled with weddings, wishes, wolves, and witches, the fairy tales of Brothers Grimm intertwine like twisting branches in Stephen Sondheim's dark masterpiece "Into the Woods", at St. Margaret's Episcopal School. Featuring classic storybook characters, their conflicting motivations and moral dilemmas reveal that such stories are never as black-and-white as they seem.

Driving the story is the Baker and his wife, played by Thomas Colglazier and Elena Plumb. Longing for a child, they accept the Witch's quest of finding absurd ingredients in exchange for help. Their effortless rapport flows equally in exasperated bickering and sweet moments of solidarity. Colglazier captures the insecurities of the Baker with his tentative tone and defensive body language, eliciting pathos in his distressed and despondent "No More". Plumb's defiant portrayal of the Baker's Wife is nuanced with sass and tenderness, as she punctuates her curtsies with flirtatious glances but offers a comforting embrace to frightened Little-Red-Ridinghood.

Among a dynamic assortment of supporting characters, there are several standouts. Stomping her feet and sneaking some sweets, Shaudeh Farjami as Little Red is deliciously unsettling in her interaction with the Wolf (Nicholas Jacome)--who devours her whole--and delightfully bratty, her nasally whine offset by excellent vocal technique. Zoe Shor plays Cinderella with depth and conflict, indecision scrawled across her face as she deliberates on her future. The Princes (Jack Aitken and Connor Nock) add comedic flair to the production when, with a flourish of their capes, they pine for unattainable women in "Agony".

The true powerhouse of the show is the Witch (Tatiana Cloobeck). Hunched and hostile, Cloobeck exudes authoritative malevolence, commanding the stage with an irate flick of her staff and gleeful musings on curses. Her menacing cackle belies her doting maternal side, however, and her powerful vocals reverberate with restrained devastation as she laments that children grow up and leave home.

Publicity by Elena Plumb, Zoe Mellard, Zoe Shor, and Nicholas Jacome is innovative and engaging, including a scavenger hunt, buzzfeed quiz, and promotional video. Makeup by Grace Guisto and Zoe Mellard features a purple smokey eye for the Witch, reflecting her transformation from haggard to youthful while maintaining ties to her dark nature. Stage manager Shea Tomaselli adroitly manages over 300 cues to keep the show running smoothly.

With enjoyable performances and engaging technical aspects, "St. Margaret's Into the Woods" puts on an enchanting production.

Arielle Perez
Mission Viejo
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Be careful what you wish for in SMES's "Into the Woods"
written by Arielle Perez, a sophomore at Mission Viejo High School

With ferocious giants, dashing princes, and a powerful witch, St. Margaret's Episcopal Upper School's "Into the Woods" follows the notable characters in classic tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, and Jack and the Beanstalk and their quest in fulfilling their wishes and the consequences that follow them.

Witch (Tatiana Cloobeck)has a compelling stage presence with her strong alluring voice and determined strides. Especially in her captivating ballad, "Last Midnight", there is grief in her eyes and desperation in her voice when she confronts her fate.

With her expressive indecisiveness and illuminating voice in "On the Steps of the Palace", Cinderella( Zoe Shor) is a driven young woman who is willing to change her own fate. In the second act, Cinderella faces harsh realities but overall excels with dedication in her step which contrasts with other renditions of the beloved character.

Wolf (Nicholas Jacome) has a menacing stage presence with his large strides and grand gestures. In "Hello Little Girl", he creates an uncomfortable and unstable environment with his sinister glares when he examines Little Red Ridinghood (Shaudeh Farjami) and plots her as his next meal.

His grand strides and bold voice, Cinderella's Prince (Jack Aitken) has a flamboyant presence. Particularly in "Agony", when discussing his unstable love affair with Cinderella, he gallantly moves across the stage and dramatically climbs a tree in expressing his misery.

Cinderella's Family (Keith Harvey, Zoe Mellard, Grace Roby, Olivia Ostlund) present themselves in a comical manner throughout the show. With these characters entitled personalities, the actors play off each other and create an entertaining environment, especially when interacting with Cinderella in "Prologue: Into the Woods".

Makeup Design (Grace Giusto and Zoe Mellard) impeccably represents the characters personality and their environment. Specifically with Wolf's prosthetic nose, to add to the wolf terrifying demeanor and brown eyeshadow on Cinderella's face represents her lower-class status.

Stage Management (Shea Tomaselli) timing of cues is a bit off at some points of the show, but overall is exceptional and brings the show together.

With strong vocals and impressive makeup design, "Into the Woods" demonstrates that even "happily ever after" has undesirable consequences.

Sierra Young
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Fantasies unfold at St. Margarets' "Into the Woods"
written by Sierra Young, a senior at San Juan Hills High School

A collision of fairytales, Into the Woods follows several characters on a quest- baker's for a child, a witch for beauty, the impoverished Jack for money. All intertwine to find something more than what they were looking for, fulfillment in themselves. Each learn a lesson that changes who they are. Sondheim's masterpiece is portrayed excitingly by St. Margarets in their production of "Into the Woods".

The center of the story, the Baker and Baker's Wife, played by Thomas Colglazier and Elena Plumb respectively, are grounded and emotional in their pursuit to grow their family. Sharing moments in the woods, the two create a dynamic pair of love and struggle. Colglazier's baker develops throughout the story, morphing from nervously fiddling with his scarf to confidently leading who is left after the giant's attack.

Scheming and self-absorbed, the Witch (Tatiana Cloobeck) crouches as she walks, showing her ability to stir things up. As she transforms into a beauty, her same demeanor is clear in her anger when things don't go her way. She contrasts herself in moments with Rapunzel (Ashley Jones), when she is soft and gentle.

Zoe Shor's portrayal of Cinderella is surprisingly raw. Bringing a more human approach to the fairytale princess, her turmoil when cleaning after her stepsisters is clear through her distressed facial expressions. Left to care for Little Red (Shaudeh Farjami) and Jack (Rylan Rodriguez-Zahn), she takes on a motherly role, gently patting their backs and giving them supportive advice.

Mysterious Man (Finn Williams) uses hunched physicality and a Southern drawl to convince that he lived in the woods for many years. He has sharp comedic timing in moments with the Baker and others in the woods. Cole Robinson's Milky White, though never speaking, is expressive in showing his sadness that Jack leaves him, and sassily eating grass in the background of scenes. The wolf (Nicolas Jacome) is fierce, commanding the stage as he creepily yearns for the juicy flesh of Little Red.

Makeup, designed by Zoe Mellard and Grace Giusto, gives insight to each character. While the royal family has glittery, regal looks, Cinderella and Jack have dirty faces, showing the lack of attention on them in the beginning. The witch has a purple smokey eye, revealed when she finally becomes beautiful again.

St. Margarets delivers a production of Into the Woods full of emotion and character development.