Go 'Into the Woods' and leave happily after

Fairy tales collide — and fracture beautifully — in PUP's production of "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, which opens this Thursday.

The Tony award-winning show brings together five famous fairy tales surrounding the new story of a Baker (Rob Walsh, TCNJ) and his Wife (Amy Coenan '07), trying to reverse the curse put on the Baker's family by an angry Witch (Danielle Ivory '05) that has left them childless. As they follow the Witch's instructions to bring back "the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, the slipper as pure as gold," in three midnights' time, their story interweaves with those of Jack (Jon Yehuda '08) of Beanstalk fame, Red Ridinghood (Christine Ritzius, TCNJ), Rapunzel (Aimee Mungovan '07) and Cinderella (Mary Steffel GS). Things look dark as each character is forced to venture into the frightening, forbidding woods. But of course, these are fairy tales, so everything turns out happily ever after. Or does it?

During Monday's dress rehearsal, everything came together and the result was enchanting, but director Marisol Rosa-Shapiro '07 had been under the show's spell for far longer.

"I've been in love with this show since I was five," she said. "What I love about it is that in the way traditional fairy tales teach children morality. This show is rewritten to teach adults the same ideas, but in a more complex and relevant way. The show is very clever, but also dark, and it's refreshing because of that darkness. It's something people don't expect."

She's right; the story is hilariously twisted, and the pace is light and fast, but there's definitely something deeper lurking in Sondheim's brilliant lyrics and catchy music. Coenan, who plays the Baker's Wife, noted that the show is all about growth and change.

"My character is the dominant figure in the relationship at first. As she goes through the woods, however, she realizes the work that goes into a relationship and begins to show a gentler, more understanding side."

Understanding one's character is incredibly important, and to this end, both actor and director spoke warmly of the rehearsal process.

"It's been amazing," Rosa-Shapiro said. "This is the first time I've really gotten to work closely and intensely with actors on my schedule. In the past few weeks, I've been rehearsing six hours a night, and I feel very fortunate to be doing so."

"The rehearsal process was very focused on character work," Coenan said. "We'd read and talk through a scene several times, picking apart the nature of the characters' interactions. We'd do a sit-down run-through and then finally get up on our feet. It's a slower-moving process than I'm used to, but it really helps make the character real and rational."

The intense character work is evident in the performance. Coenan's Baker's Wife sings beautifully, particularly in the moving second act number, "Moments in the Woods," and the chemistry between her and Walsh's Baker sparkles, especially during their duet "It Takes Two."

Yehuda's Jack is sweetly earnest and naïve; his tearful "Goodbye" to his only friend, cow Milky White, is simultaneously funny and touching, one of director Rosa-Shapiro's favorite moments.

Ivory creates a layered, multifaceted Witch, managing to be both villainous and sympathetic. She even raps.

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As well as these major roles, "Into the Woods" also offers star turns in smaller parts. Highlights include Andrew Saxe '08 and Jordan Flowers '05 as two pursuing Princes. Flowers doubles as Ridinghood's voracious Wolf and performs both roles admirably.

"Into the Woods" is performed in the Matthews Acting Studio at 185 Nassau Street, which offers a unique experience because, as Rosa-Shapiro says, it "is a very intimate space. It's a rare opportunity to be so physically close to the actors. Everything is immediate." It's not your typical musical space, but it's also "not your typical musical," Rosa-Shapiro said.

"The coolest thing about the show for me is when my character realizes what it's all about," Coenan said. "'Into the Woods' is a metaphor for uncertainty and change. In life, everyone must go into the woods, where everything familiar disappears, and one is left all alone." Fear of getting lost, missing life's richness, and, most of all, ending up alone are all strong themes here, but the show reminds us at last that "No one is alone."

"When my character figures that out, when she can reconcile it with real life, that's the best part," Coenan said. "It's poignant and amazing."

"Into the Woods" is playing at the Matthews Acting Studio at 185 Nassau St. It runs from Nov. 4 to Nov. 6, and Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 at 8p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on the 13th. Tickets are $8 for students, $10 seniors / faculty and $12 general admission, and can be purchased at the Frist Ticket Office.