One of the most popular Stephen Sondheim musicals has hit the Edinburgh Fringe, and it truly shines! Into The Woods is produced by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) at Greenside @ George Street.
Two hours of outstanding non-stop entertainment
Fairytale characters from famous stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella all merge into one story. If you see this musical, I can promise you that James Lapine’s book offers plot twists that take the stories of characters we all love to a much deeper level.
With this being LAMDA’s first year of master's students, one would expect to see a marvel of a show. With Annabel Mutale Reed’s direction, this show exceeds all expectations. The choreography by Sarah Golding and Gregory Haney, although minimal, allows every student to showcase their dance skills and the hard work they've put into their studies. Together with James Cleeve’s brilliant musical direction, this promises two hours of outstanding non-stop entertainment.
The team makes interesting use of a limited set, and the special effects of Luca Panetta's lighting design work really well, particularly in helping the audience understand whether a character is talking to themselves or to others and in enabling us to see facial expressions, while highlighting the distressing parts of the show. Liam McDermott’s sound design meant the cast could be heard clearly, even when they spoke over each other.
Each character is well portrayed. Luke Capello’s interpretation of Jack is truly remarkable, showing how much Jack learned and developed during this adventure. Anna Cornish’s Milky White was intricate and real, making us laugh and cry with their amazing facial expressions and movements. Daniel Trainor’s Cinderella’s Prince was outstanding, authentically highlighting the Prince’s red flags. Caitlin Jane Williams fabulously played the Steward and Hollie Avery was exceptional in terms of stage presence, voice and characterisation. The Witch is a very hard role to play, as they tell everyone what they don’t want to hear. Thanks to Avery, I can now truly understand what Sondheim meant with songs like Children Will Listen.
Whether you’re a Stephen Sondheim fan or not, this show is not to be missed. Do yourself a favour, and if you’re watching only one musical at the Fringe, make it this one! Truly remarkable.
