Cappies Review: 'Into The Woods' At Chantilly High School

By Lareina Allred of Dominion High School

As one of the most popular and well-loved musicals in recent history, "Into the Woods" is chock-full of witches, wolves and cows.

The 1986 musical by Steven Sondheim follows various fairy tales as they intertwine in the same universe, acting parallel to one another as a baker and his wife struggle to find four mystical items to break the curse placed on them by a witch.

At Chantilly High School, the woods are more than just trees — they're a place of magic. Even within such a large ensemble cast, many actors had their moment to shine.

The Witch lies at the center of the production's storyline and is a hefty role for any actor, but Sydney Schneider lived in the role with an attitude and magnetism that belied Schneider's age. The Baker and his wife — played by Julien DaSilva and Anna Anderson — anchored the show in their heartfelt relationship, sharing moments of romantic tenderness throughout the production.

Ren Lagasse's Little Red Riding Hood was played with wonderful comic timing and child-like energy as Lagasse interacted with Christian Schopp's earnest Jack. Stand-out vocalist Alyssa Dausch played Cinderella with admirable heart, and Dausch's chemistry with Nitish Kommoju as the charismatic Prince left audiences laughing as much as they swooned.

Hannah Moghaddar's Rapunzel had a voice clear as bells that was often used to cry, scream and interact with Rapunzel's prince Tyler Hicks to great comedic effect. Comedy in general was no stranger to the cast, as all the actors got the audience chuckling, particularly when Owen Lawrence Chambers' Narrator took the stage.

Many musicals can suffer from lack of cohesion and energy, but this production was not one of them. Even in large numbers or scenes with conflicting dynamics (most notably in the opening and closing numbers) every actor was fully engaged and understood their significance in the musical at large, making for a smooth viewing experience even if four things might be going on at once.

The actors' dynamism and commitment to their roles, however small, made for an immersive experience as the audience watched characters run, laugh and cry.

However, the actors' efforts wouldn't be complete without the show's technical elements. The running crew led by Rory Ketzle completed complicated set transitions with ease, transporting the audience everywhere from a baker's shop to a grandmother's cottage. Working alongside recorded tracks, the sound design team added various sound effects to compliment the actions of the show, including a baby's cry and the sound of magical spells, and never missed a beat.

The set crew's choice to add a stage extension with a beautiful braided design offered various spaces for actors to pop in and out of with surprising speed, adding a fun twist to the production's usual blocking. Alexander Ketzle as lighting designer provided classic choices with a bold twist, subtly changing the washes of color as the characters moved from a blue, mysterious forest to the warmth of a home.

The final cherry on top of the production was the hair and makeup design. The makeup team's hard work was complete with impressive prosthetics for the wolves, three little pigs and the Witch's nose and chin, making for impressive onstage visuals.

The hard work of the publicity team led by Becca and Amelia Marsh bore large crowds last Friday, proving that Chantilly High School's "Into the Woods" will be a favorite of audiences for seasons to come, as well as a reminder to always be careful what you wish for.