Lewis & Clark’s fall theatre production, “Into the Woods,” opened on Nov. 1 to a large and enthusiastic audience. The show, written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, is beloved in the musical theater world, and the unique twists the theatre department added made it even more intriguing.
The musical imagines many popular fairy tales taking place in the same world, with numerous classic characters making wishes for the future and interacting with one another. The story mainly revolves around a baker and his wife who wish for a child, but are unable to have one due to a witch’s curse. In order to break the curse, they set off on a quest into the woods and meet other earnest characters. While everyone’s wishes are granted, the effects are disastrous, conveying themes about consequentiality and hope.
The actors’ vocal talent and ability to remain true to their characters made the musical an emotional experience. The baker and his wife, played by Brodie Joseph ’26 and Charlotte Gregson ’25, evoked feelings of sympathy in their cooperation, connection and fighting. Even the witch, played by Tiani Ertel ’25, who is meant to be a more villainous character tugged at one’s heartstrings with her emotional monologues. The voice work each actor put in made the characters seem real and added a touch of humor. The princes especially, played by Dylan Hunter ’27 and Lila Kunkel ’28, were chauvinistic and ridiculous in how they spoke to each other, drawing laughs from the audience.
The movement of the characters demonstrated impressive work by actors, especially with complicated and busy choreography at the end of the show. The creative use of stage space was also engaging. Performers often went into the aisles of the theater and utilized nooks above the stage to create a captivating and dynamic experience.
The set and costumes added to the immersion too. The set was unlike what one would expect for traditional woodland scenery. Lights on the stage and the fly system were connected by silver streamers, creating shimmery, reflective trees that evoked a feeling of confusion, similar to what the characters felt when they were lost in the woods. Another creative detail was the leaves on the trees, which were made up of colorful wish notes written by community members — connecting to the overall topic. There were also many simple, yet creative and effective techniques to immerse the audience in the world of the mysterious woods. For example, when the baker and his wife entered the woods, a burst of fog was released, creating a disorienting atmosphere. Later, when a giant destroyed the woods and killed characters, the set shook vigorously and trees appeared to have fallen, adding to the environmental immersion of the show.
On the other hand, the costumes were more modern and unique, rather than realistic, showcasing the artistic spirit of the production. One case was the wicked stepsisters from “Cinderella” who wore bright tinsel wigs and sparkling shirts — different from their typical costumes but still representative of their vanity. The witch started off wearing a ragged cloak and a stringy black wig, but upon becoming young again, shed that costume to reveal a mishmash of colorful, layered attire and flowery wig, — a unique and stylish outfit to represent her transformation. Rapunzel’s famed hair was constructed from a variety of bright fabrics and Little Red Riding Hood’s vibrant head piece was knitted, both of which added texture and innovation to the popular characters.
The pit orchestra was instrumental in creating the beautiful soundscape and effects in the musical. Despite having relatively few musicians, the orchestra maintained an excellent volume and balance with the singers. Each instrument was clearly heard and sounded lovely alongside the performers on stage. A variety of percussion instruments were used to convey actions such as casting spells. Speakers were also used to add and amplify sounds such as the giant’s voice, thundering footsteps and the squelching sound of someone being crushed, creating another layer of reality through audio. The performance of the giant by Charlie Chalmers ’25 added comedy and believability to the show.
The talented members of the LC theatre department made “Into the Woods” an enjoyable and immersive experience, as seen by the packed theatre on opening night. The incredible characterization by the actors and creative approaches to the atmosphere, costumes and sound led to an emotional and amusing show. While it was different from an expected performance of “Into the Woods,” the production certainly provided a delightful experience for the audience.
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