I’ve seen Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods” on Broadway, in L.A. and on the screen. Obviously, I’m a super big fan of the show. But I have to say, this production, now playing at the Ahmanson, is by far my favorite and that’s thanks to the creative genius of the acclaimed Fiasco Theatre Company and directors Noah Brody.
Sondheim and and his partner Lapine, intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. We have Cinderella, her nasty step mommy along with her two very mean step sisters, (this time played by two men); Rapunzel, Two Princes, both charming, an evil Witch (what would a fairy tale be without one?); Jack, the dude who planted magic beans and grew a beanstalk where a giant lived. He made the mistake of stealing the big guy’s gold, which really pissed him off. Then there’s a Baker and his wife, who desperately want a child, a Mysterious Man, milky white cow, and lastly, Little Red Riding Hood and her stalker, the always hungry Wolf.
What makes this show so brilliant, original, super funny and just fabulous, besides the incredibly talented cast, is the imaginative production. The amazing sets were created by Broadway veteran Derek McLane. The eleven actors, playing several parts at a drop of a hat, their incredible voices singing Sondheim’s beautiful, poignant lyrics, and their perfect comic timing, along with killer acting chops, makes this a must-see performance.
“Into the Woods” opened on April 5th, 2017 and plays through May 14, 2017. Performances are: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 8:00 pm, Sundays, 1:00 pm and 6:30pm.
Tickets range from $60.00 to $125.00. To Purchase call 213-972-4400 or go to www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. You can also get tickets by visiting the box office at the Ahmanson located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles.
