Photo by Mark Frohna
With stunning sets, masterful orchestration and impeccable performances, Skylight Music Theatre’s production of Into the Woods is a delight. The clever premise brings well-known Grimm fairy tale characters into collision as they pursue their expected objectives and then deal with the unforeseen, often unsavory consequences of wish fulfillment.
Sets and lighting by Peter Dean Beck bring the woods to life with enormous trees, dappled gobos and cascading leaves. Mark Mandarano’s direction of the challenging score adds a great deal to the fantasy environment; a whimsical 1970s drum synthesizer during the Witch’s (Susan Spencer) hilarious opening number was particularly effective.
The performers shine under Edwin Cahill’s direction. Especially memorable are Ray Jivoff as the riddle-spitting, summersaulting Mysterious Man and Liz Norton as the sneering Stepmother. Other standouts include Jonathan Altman and Karen Estrada as the Milwaukee-based Baker and Baker’s Wife, whose everyday arguments are amusingly framed in a magical context; and Joe Fransee and Ian Toohill as a pair of princes “raised to be charming, not sincere”—their bounding entrances, Frasier and Niles Crane-esque prissiness, and despicable womanizing add a lot of color to the show.
Although Stephen Sondheim’s rather moralizing lyrics and heavy use of patter may not suit all tastes, Skylight’s production is unquestionably enjoyable; full of humor, hijinks and food for thought, it has something for everyone.
Through June 14 at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, call 414-291-7800 or visit skylightmusictheatre.org.
