Find out more
For four spectacular days in February the Annenberg theatre was transformed into a magical forest for this year’s musical, Into the Woods. Witches, bean-stalks, ravenous wolves and golden-haired maidens all played their part in Lapine and Sondheim’s ingenious medley, brought fantastically to life by a talented cast of singers and dancers. As Nick Huntington said in his programme notes, “this incredibly popular musical fable follows the ‘pursuit of happily ever after’, but its most enduring qualities lie in posing the question of what comes after, and whether we should wish for things in the first place.”
The principals were superb: Leo M and Bella C were a stand-out couple as the Baker and Baker’s Wife, Izzy H a chilling and evil witch, and Gabriella K a convincingly frustrated mother of Jack, in turn played with a beguiling blend of innocence and maturity by Third-former Caspar G. Sophie L and Catrina SS were both magnificent in their roles as Cinderella and Rapunzel, while Miles B, Fin H and Freddie G all impressed as Princes and the mysterious man of the forest. Fifi B was a brilliant Little Red Riding Hood, while our two narrators, Eddie R and Barney V provided continuity and a sense of being both inside and outside the unfolding drama at one and the same time.
Many congratulations to Director Ashleigh Walter, and Musical Director Sean Farrell whose inspired production and musical interpretation ensured that these were evenings of astonishing enjoyment, and ones that allowed Wellington’s finest Musical Theatre stars to shine so brightly, once again bringing West End quality to the Wellington stage.
