The woods around of Prescott are nice, but the woods inside the theatre are fantastic. Tracey Johnston, Louise Nelson, and the school’s advanced technical theatre students have blended real trees with faux trees and stumps, topped off with the mystical-looking tree used for Cinderella’s dead mother and a magic beanstalk that grows, all combining for woods that appear both real and surreal. The royal family can go riding through the forest sitting astride the prince’s mighty two-dimensional steed with seats built into the sides. The three houses for Cinderella, Jack, and the bakers’ look great (the baker’s roof resembles a pie). Characters stand in the real trees (with the help of harnesses) to help them fight giants. And a backdrop of misty woods sets it all off.

It is around a Baker and his wife that the story revolves – a barren family cursed by the witch next door for a crime committed by the baker’s father believed to have been killed in a freak baking accident. In order to lift the curse, they have three midnights to bring to the witch a cow as white as milk (Jack’s beloved pet), a cape as red as blood (Little Red Riding Hood), a slipper as pure as gold (Cinderella’s shoe), and hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel has plenty to spare).

Caleb Chunglo and Caroline Marolf star as the baking couple, and they play off each other exceptionally well in portraying an authentically happily married, romantically playful couple with the occasional stresses and arguments of everyday life. Caleb’s baker has a nervous streak in him, literally jumping into the arms of his wife when he gets spooked in the woods by a Mysterious Man (played by another good Caleb – Caleb Campbell). Caroline has a terrific voice, knack for comedy, and strength of character (literally – she can pick up a cow and carry it off with one hand). She shines brightly in her “Moment in the Woods.”

They are hassled and tortured by a humorously nasty, old Witch who transforms into a nasty, beautiful Witch. She can shoot flames out of her staff (much to the discomfort of the Baker and his Wife) and can fly through the air quite skillfully (an experienced flyer – Nicole St. Germain was flying about as the good witch Glinda a couple years ago at nearby Young Star Musical Theatre). Nicole’s strong voice makes for a good rendition of the ominous Last Midnight.

The cast is very strong down the line. Carly Jonovich is a rip as Little Red, tossing her curls back and forth as she skips along blissfully unaware of any dangers in the woods, furtively stealing sweet breads intended for Grandma, casually theorizing that Grandma may already be dead (accompanied by a ‘big deal’ shrug – again blissfully unaware of death and dangers, until she gets swallowed by a big, bad wolf!). Keith Bunger is the Wolf who can scarcely contain himself, so excited is he at the prospect of a two-course meal (Granny and Little Red). He’s also got a good howl and snore. Savannah Martin has a lovely voice for Cinderella, singing a tender version of No One is Alone, and becoming quite confused when the Baker’s Wife demands her slipper so that she can have a baby. Billy Reed is a royal riot as Cinderella’s Prince with great expressions, body language, fear of blood, and fear of other strange things in the woods. When Jack’s mother (Ruby Crews) comes rushing in making a spooky screaming noise, Billy goes pale and draws his sword on the old lady – nervous but sort of ready. He delivers the amusing duet Agony with his brother prince (Jacob Clark) who goes pale at the idea of finding dwarves guarding the glass coffin of a woman he is intrigued by. That’s after he begins losing interest in his crazy princess Rapunzel (Alley Harlan), a princess driven mad by her over-protective mother – the Witch. Nolan Sturdevant is Jack who is very kind to his pet cow Milky White, but isn’t quite so endearing to those Giants in the Sky, but he does a nice job singing about them.

Performs April 17 - 19, 2008.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

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