Wishes granted by Governor Simcoe production
“I wish. More than anything. I wish.”
Perhaps a wish to meet a prince, become wealthy or have a child. A wish to get everything you’ve ever wanted.
For most, this may sound like an ordinary fairy tale, but a trip to Governor Simcoe’s production of the Sondheim classic, “Into The Woods” reveals the consequences of getting what you want, and the impact that one wish can have.
Set in a kingdom of fairy tales and fables, “Into The Woods” follows the stories of Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and a Baker and his wife, as they intertwine in conflict and quest.
The Tony-Award winning musical, written by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, debuted on Broadway in 1987 and has remained a staple in musical theatre.
Known for its challenging, brimful score, “Into The Woods” can be a difficult set of songs to navigate. Simcoe students rose to the challenge successfully in tunes such as “Your Fault” and “Act I Opening” where they victoriously delivered the fastpaced, concurrent lyrics.
Memorable performances included Lucas Romanelli and Rachel Sheehan, whose portrayals of the “Baker” and “Witch” displayed a great understanding of the emotional complexity within their respective roles.
Declan Platakis’ performance as “Jack” effectively captured the curiosity of the character, while Emily Boyd’s portrayal of “Little Red Ridinghood” achieved the fierce, yet innocent nature of the role.
Other standout performances were those of Adam McIsaac and Noah Bondoc as the charming, but insincere Princes whose comedic chemistry shined in the competitive number “Agony.”
A show is incomplete without the contributions of lighting and sound, which were remarkably done by Jacob Dillon and Christian Audette (Lighting), along with Hunter Fulton (Sound). Lighting effectively directed the eye across the stage, and distinguished events, while working alongside sound to enhance dramatic effect. Music presented by Into The Woodwinds and Co. was impressive in its ability to accompany the actors in a seemingly effortless way.
While effective and harmonious for the majority of the show, sound ran into difficulties that occasionally distracted from the overall performance. Fortunately, these troubles were promptly settled and the actors persisted professionally and unfazed.
Scenic design by Victoria Balyk deserves praise for its outstanding ability to transport you “Into The Woods.” The set was versatile and successfully differentiated locations, while the Tree Ensemble doubled as moving set pieces, which heightened the set’s intricacy and appeal.
Noteworthy mentions go out to the Hair and Makeup team, as well as the Prop teams, who added essential layers to both the characters and set with their contributions.
Governor Simcoe’s enchanting production of “Into The Woods” dove into the dark consequences of getting what you want, and the truth behind gaining a happily ever after. It displayed the harsh outcomes that may result from greed and warns: be careful what you wish for.