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Into the Woods,
Jr.
by Broadway Kids of San Diego
 Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine brought together
Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, and other
favorite characters from the Grimm Fairy Tales for this enchanting tale about
companionship, community, and facing the dangers of the woods when life and
finding true happiness demands it. And 14-year-old director/producer Alice
Cash went into the woods of theatre production to bring the enchantment to
life, creating her own youth theatre company, arranging the permissions and
theatre space, marketing it, and casting a great group of younger actors from
San Diego’s large and talented youth theatre community.
This two-shows-only performance had the theatre at the
Scripps Miramar Ranch Library Center completely packed for Broadway Kids of San
Diego’s premiere production of Into the Woods, Jr. – the shortened
version of Into the Woods that makes a complete show of its first act.
The second act was definitely missed, but half the show is still an
entertaining piece.
Josh Herren and Shannon Partrick starred as
the good-natured Baker and his sensible Wife – normal citizens of the town just
outside the woods who are forced to enter the wild woods in order to overcome a
witch’s curse that has left them childless – an effort that leads them into
encounters with Little Red, Jack, Cinderella, Rapunzel, a couple of charmingly
arrogant princes, and a variety of other unusual folk. Those folks include
Zoe Katz as the ugly, hunched, villainous Witch wanting to transform into
her former beauty, and who clearly loves her career choice as she prods and
batters the bakers into submission. Devon Hollingsworth makes for a
sublime Cinderella, Jonathan Edzant is a charming, little thief as he
steals from giants and especially compelling as he nurtures his friendship with
his dear friend Milky White (the family cow played by Gretchen Cash, who
has a memorable death scene), and Rebecca Myers is a Little Red with an
amusingly big attitude (and you don’t want to steal her red cape unless you’ve
got earplugs handy).
The animated ensemble gave the show a boost of energy
throughout. A few standouts included Casey Jaquez as Jack’s hilariously
crabby mother, Catherine Miller as the Narrator who tells the story in
storytelling fashion, James Maslow as both the wily wolf and wolfish
prince (joined by Matt Maretz for their big Agony scene as they
chase after Cinderella and climb after Rapunzel (Malone Peed)), Cameron
Elmore as the spry Mysterious Man, and Zoe Eprile as a tiny and
hysterical Granny who enjoys getting a little back-at-ya on the Wolf who ate
her.
Alice Cash
gets her directing debut off with a well-cast and dynamic production, its
biggest challenge understandably working with the sound. The timing was right
on, the staging was creative and entertaining (for one example, having the
Baker “accidentally” use Milky White’s leash to trip up the vain Prince as he
exits the stage after talking to the Baker’s Wife), and the set (with help from
Alan Cash and Terry Katz) was attractive and clever for both
scene changes and in its scenery (like having Jack’s home with a portrait of
Milky White prominently displayed above the mantle!).
Performed August 4 and 7, 2005.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Baker: Josh Herren
Baker's Wife: Shannon Partrick
Witch: Zoe Katz
Cinderella: Devon Hollingsworth
Cinderella's Prince: James Maslow
Jack: Jonathan Edzant
Little Red Ridinghood: Rebecca Myers
Wolf: James Maslow
Rapunzel's Prince: Matt Maretz
Rapunzel: Malone Peed
Mysterious Man: Cameron Elmore
Jack's Mother: Casey Jaquez
Cinderella's Stepmother: Samantha Cash
Florinda: Sophia Kostas
Lucinda: Jenny Barwick
Steward: Matt Maretz
Narrator: Catherine Miller
Granny: Zoe Eprile
Cinderella's Father: Cammy Green
Cinderella's Mother: Catherine Miller
Milky White the Cow: Gretchen Cash
Hen: Melanie Farfel
Director/Producer: Alice Cash
Stage Manager: Arielle Pardes
Set Artwork: Terry Katz
Set Construction: Alice and Alan Cash
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