Cappies Review: 'Into the Woods' At Bishop Ireton High School

By Audrey Link of McLean High School

"Careful the things you do, children will see," and the audience certainly saw magic last night at Bishop Ireton's performance of Into the Woods. The cast and crew of this production dedicated themselves to telling an enchanting tale about overcoming hardships on a treacherous journey, the importance of family relationships, and getting lost in the woods.

With music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, this show first debuted on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1987. This production received three Tony wins in 1988 and has since seen many revivals, most recently in 2022. Based on the fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, the story follows a baker and his wife who wish to have a child but have been cursed by a witch who claims their wish will only come true if they follow her instructions. As the couple sets out to find objects from different fairy tales for the witch, they encounter classic characters such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, but just when they think they have made their wish come true, they discover that everything is different in the woods.

Elina Viana as The Witch captivated the audience with her spell-binding stage presence and resonating, ethereal vocals. Viana was constantly animated on stage and portrayed her character's role as both a calculating antagonist and a desperate mother with precision and grace. Lauren Allen as the Baker's Wife was the epitome of a woman longing for adventure and delivered beautiful vocals, especially in "Moments in the Woods." Opposite Allen was Donovan Furey as The Baker, whose frequent state of panic required Furey to have high-energy at all times and quick physical movements, which contrasted with his vulnerable moments in the second act.

Erin Allen portrayed the iconic character of Cinderella with flawless soprano vocals and an ever-present air of kindness and strength. Pierce Aldridge as Cinderella's Prince along with Julien Goulet as Rapunzel's prince were both clearly audience favorites, especially in their song "Agony." Goulet's impeccable physical comedy, whether it be stumbling over a tree stump or cowering in fear, shone in every one of his scenes. Meanwhile, Aldridge's strong baritone vocals and immaculate hair flips made him a joy to watch on stage.

This production had the help of numerous impressive technical elements to deliver their bewitching tale. The costumes designed by Claire Gibbons, Catherine Carow, Iona McCluskey, and the Costume Class were vivid and fun, with plants and greenery expertly woven into the costumes of mystical characters to connect them to the magic of the woods. The special effects done by Anna Wisneski and Cherri Hansford added another layer of fascination to the show, creating moments such as The Witch disappearing into fog and using dry ice to make a foaming potion.

Lastly, the set built by Joseph Murray, Charlotte Rayder, Caroline Reams, Sarah Petz, and the Bishop Ireton Set Design Team was dynamic and aesthetically pleasing, with steps made of storybooks and an arch bridge. This set team also created a large tree at the center of the stage with the trunk placed behind the main set with glittering leaves hanging in front of it from the top of the stage.

Although we may never know what a journey through the woods will have in store for us, Bishop Ireton's marvelous production of Into the Woods promises that on such a journey one is sure to find hope, wisdom, love, and perhaps a giant or two.