Review: 'Into the Woods' Tells Tall Tales, Finds Emotional Depth

"Into the Woods," now being presented by The Players at Barker Playhouse, is an exuberant musical mash-up of classic fairytales, including "Cinderella" and "Jack and the Beanstalk." What was most surprising about this production was the amount of emotional depth in the storytelling and performances.

The Witch (Erin Malcolm) places a curse on the Baker (Alex Paul David) and his wife (Elizabeth Peterson). They will be unable to have children unless they gather specific items, including one of Cinderella's shoes, Little Red Riding Hood's cloak, a lock of Rapunzel's hair, and Jack's beloved cow, Milky White (portrayed by a scene-stealing Jeff C. Davis).

There are multiple complications, of course. Red Riding Hood is devoured by the Wolf (Ian Hudgins) and has to be rescued. Milky White escapes. A giant menaces everyone and causes much destruction, and Cinderella refuses to give up her shoes.

There is also a Mysterious Man (Roger Lemelin, doubling as Narrator) lurking about the woods. He has a connection to the Baker, which I will not spoil.

Co-directors Samantha Hudgins and Lydia Johnson keep the pacing sharp, and have guided the large ensemble into beautifully rendered characterizations. Malcolm is wonderfully zany and larger-than-life as the Witch, who seems purely evil but actually possesses a core of tenderness. She delivers soaring vocals on the ballads "Last Midnight" and "Stay With Me."

David, a veteran stage and film actor making his debut with The Players, exhibits warm charisma and vulnerability as the Baker. Peterson and David are wonderfully appealing on the duet "It Takes Two."

Nathan Huey, as Cinderella's Prince, and Ryan Leverone, as Rapunzel's Prince, deliver a fair share of amusement in their scenes. The two are a lot of fun singing "Agony."

As Jack, Jack Becker displays terrific vocals on "Giants in the Sky."

I also enjoyed the work of Madisen Cardona, who made for a tart and spunky Little Red Riding Hood. Anna Barcellos is a more complex and multi-dimensional Cinderella than we are used to watching, and Abbey Lane plays Rapunzel as beautiful, but deeply troubled.

The orchestra, under the direction of Tim Sauer, is in fine form. Set designer Ian Hudgins, lighting designer Harmony Lindstrom, and costumers Connor Goins and Stephanie Traversa all succeed in creating an enchanting fantasy world.

Writer James Lapine and composer Stephen Sondheim ("Assassins") create a world of fantasy and romance, colored by the frailties of human nature. Along the way, they balance fun and pathos: One minute finds the audience being delighted by the closeness of the bond between Jack and Milky White, while the next we are swept up in Cinderella's despair or Rapunzel's loneliness. Sondheim's songs propel the action forward, and also contain a lot of heartfelt sentiments, particularly the ballad "No One Is Alone," sung by the Baker, Cinderella, Jack, and Little Red Riding Hood.

The overarching message of the show is the capacity for individuals to overcome their obstacles and become stronger in the process. Not everyone gets what they want, and they suffer some losses along the way; still, while life may not be a fairytale, it can be a lot of fun.

"Into the Woods" runs through April 6. The Players at Barker Playhouse. 400 Benefit St., Providence, RI. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes with intermission. For tickets, visit playersri.org.