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Director Vivienne Atkins has done an excellent job of casting this play. Delle Lloyd Preston is charming as Little Red Riding Hood, perfecting her childlike behavior and winning the audience's favor. Katharine Boettcher puts in a spellbinding performance as the Witch.
Jenny Stircklin, as Cinderella, is beautiful and regal at times, dirty and klutzy at other times.
Jim Wood and Kristen Tumminello portray the Baker and his Wife, and are the glue to this story.
This play produces two Princes--one for Cinderella and one for Rapunzel. Darin Windham and Jeff Stricklin both charm their fair ladies. Darin puts in a rousing performance as the Big Bad Wolf, too.
Other actors include Jay Poff, Brad Howard, Shelli Baker, Emma Bramblett, Sarah Brown, Josie Craig, Jamie Brown, Melinda Lombardino, Jenna Leith, Cydney Thomson, Todd Goode, Deborah Fleischman, Naomi Hallmark, and Brie Cubelic.
In Act 1, our familiar tales are told: Jack slays the Giant, Cinderella marries her Prince, Red is rescued from the Wolf, and Rapunzel escapes from her tower. The Baker and his wife free themselves from the witch and have a child. In Act II, the play turns dark as the characters find out that "Happily Ever After" isn't what they thought it was.
The play starts out with wishes, and the characters are singing, "I Wish." Soon they are thinking maybe they should have done things differently: Little Red Riding Hood shouldn't have strayed from the path, Cinderella shouldn't have gone to the ball, and Jack shouldn't have slain the Giant.
This production has dance, rhythm, rhyme, dance, songs, and fun. Sometimes our dreams turn into nightmares, but this show is a amusing reverie. Into the Woods is playing through August 4th at Lee High School auditorium. See the Events Calendar for ticket information.
