Disney’s live remakes and childhood stories have put fairytales back on our minds. Into the Woods, a musical by Stephen Sondheim based on the James Lapine book, is a classic production that centers around classic fairytale characters, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack with his beanstalk. The Hangar Theater Company in Ithaca’s production of Into the Woods, directed by Michael Barakiva, was innovative and featured highly talented actors.
To briefly sum up the storyline, a baker and his wife are cursed with infertility by a witch who is cursed herself with old age. To lift their curse, the baker and his wife must hunt for four items throughout the woods, each of which happens to belong to Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack, who are all also facing their own problems. Their stories become intertwined, and together they face a vengeful giant, learn about life, and experience love.
Upon first entering the theater, the set was immediately eye-catching. Made up of a collection of diverse items that included cords, a dinosaur toy, lights, and multiple other items, the set resembled a mystical junkyard. Complete with upside-down green umbrellas hanging from the ceiling and a ladder reaching up to the catwalk above, the set was clearly thought out in detail. Untraditionally, the musicians were part of the set, on stage with the actors, creating an up-close and personal experience as the audience was able to see the musicians laughing along with the actors.
Even the costumes lived up to the high standards the creative environment had set. The Hangar Theater decided to make their costumes out of recycled items, creating eccentric costumes that made the production all the more interesting. Seeing Cinderella’s rags made out of plastic grocery bags and a shirt intrigued the audience. The witch’s cape and head were even decorated with fairy lights, displaying the uniqueness of the costumes.
I admired the sheer talent and devotion of the actors. They were able to smoothly sing the complicated songs complete with challenging beats while harmonizing with others, and their ability to convey the development their characters were going through was heart-warming to watch. The actors had to portray innocence in the first act when all the characters believed their journey into the woods would be short and easy while also showing how devastating loss and loneliness could be as their characters experienced life-changing events. At the same time, however, the actors were humorous, playing off the audience’s laughter and keeping the production light-hearted, displaying the actors’ palette of abilities.
The commitment to their roles stood out strongly. At many points in the production, the actors had to pretend as if something was in the distance, whether it was a looming giant or a tall tower. The actors put it all on the table and showed professionalism and dedication to their roles.
The roles that the actors had to play were challenging. Each character in the production symbolized bigger concepts. For instance, Little Red Riding Hood symbolized the loss of innocence when one is exposed to the real world. Explained in Little Red Riding Hood’s song, “I Know Things Now,” it is a small snippet of how the actors were able to convey difficult concepts while simultaneously giving emotional performances to which the audience could relate.
One of the most memorable parts about this production was the interaction of the actors with every part of the stage. Actors were running in from every door around the theater, sometimes even walking through the aisles right next to viewers, and utilizing every platform in the audience. The audience was even playfully cautioned by the director before the production began to watch out for fast-moving actors if you were leaving your seat. There was never a dull moment throughout the entire experience.
The Hangar Theater’s production of Into the Woods was an immense joy to watch, from the intricate set and environmentally conscious costumes to the unforgettable acting and singing. The finale was a satisfying wrap up to the production, featuring the characters’ key lessons they learned and letting the actors sing their hearts out. The Hangar Theater has many more productions planned for the summer, and if they are anything like Into the Woods, they will be exceptional.