LEIGH ANN DUNLEAVY

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild production, Into the Woods, will be on stage through December 1. This show is not your kid’s fairy tale.  Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine went up against Phantom of the Opera and Chorus Line and won Tony Awards for best score and book. This funny and engaging Broadway musical features the Baker and his wife, who have been cursed with childlessness by the witch next door. Their journey into the woods to break the spell poses serious challenges: What do you do when you have a dead giant in your back yard and his wife is out for revenge?

Making his debut at the Theatre Guild is Maxwell Jones as the Baker, who brings a wonderful singing voice to the show.  In addition, he does a very nice job playing the dutiful husband set on getting his wife a child, while questioning his own wants.  He journey into the woods is to get items which will reverse a curse placed on his family by the Witch, played by Sara Gordon.  Sara is no stranger to the Guild stage.  She recently played Ruth in Pirates of Penzance and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast.  Sara’s portrayal of the witch is so entertaining to watch, as is her first song in the show, which she infuses with humor and energy.

Jillian Lopes plays the Baker’s Wife.  Her amazing singing voice was heard most recently as Babette in last season’s Beauty and the Beast.  When asked about the show, she says it is “challenging.  The music is super hard.  In addition each scene has to be exactly right to tell the story.”  Although it may be a challenging show, Jillian seems at home on the Into the Woods stage.  Her patience with her husband as he rebuffs her attempts to help is nicely balanced by the persistence she shows to go after each item the witch has demanded.

As the baker and his wife enter the woods, they immediately encounter characters from Grimm’s fairy tales in the woods for their own reasons.  When they cross paths with Jack, played by Walter Wells IV, they realize immediately he has one of the items they seek.  Walter brings a youthful, wide-eyed optimism to Jack.  Throughout the beginning of the show Jack is looking for the best of each situation and Walter delivers the performance with enthusiasm and spirit.

Much of the story is told by the Narrator, played by Doolin Dalton, which is a feat in itself when you consider Doolin is also cast as the Mysterious Man.  When asked how he makes the transition between characters, in some cases with only a few seconds to change, Doolin responded “I try to find my switch.  There are mannerisms and vocal inflections that come with being an old man who has been lost in the woods for over 20 years.  With the Narrator, I’ve simply tried to imagine how I would speak to a younger audience if I were to be asked to come in and read to a classroom.”  Doolin’s method is clearly working.  He will be seen bouncing all over the stage as a crazy old man one minute and then deliver the next part from the Narrator as if he had been standing in the wings watching the action all along.

Characters continue to enter the woods, played by such talented actors and actresses, including Mary Volsky as Jack’s devoted but strict mother;  Kelly Clemenzi as an easily distracted and equally clumsy Cinderella; Robin Ecklord Spalin as Cinderella’s loving mother; Collette Lavoie Loo as Cinderalla’s not-so-loving step mother; Emily Jones and Heather Stapleton as Cinderella’s demanding step-sisters; Art Haeberle as Cinderella’s father, Robin Volsky and Ben Earman as Princes in search of their Princesses; Laura Baldwin as Rapunzel; Lisa Keeler as the rambunctious Little Red Riding Hood; Nicholas Keeler as the Steward to the prince; Larry Sircy as Jack’s best friend, Milky White; Jill A. Hargrave as the Giant, Colleen Hilla Loo as Sleeping Beauty and Kali Pierce as Snow White.

The set for Into the Woods is almost a character in its own right.  Throughout the show pieces are brought on and off and the set itself changes to accommodate the scene.  For Jillian, the complexity of the set had to be seen, as she noted “In the beginning of rehearsals, when Mark described the set, I didn’t get it, but it is amazing.  The various levels really bring a lot to the show.”  The woods are beautifully painted by Scenery Charge Artist, Isabel Garrett, and by Robin Volsky.

The director is Mark Wygonik, recipient of numerous Genie awards, including outstanding production for Hotbed Hotel, and current Guild President.  Mark has previous experience with Into the Woods, as set and costume designer in the Guild’s 1993 performance.  He also played a small role in the show.

Mark is well known for his high quality productions and Into the Woods is definitely living up to that expectation.  As Doolin points out, “Working with Mark is no walk in the park.  The intensity that he carries shows how deeply he cares about the quality of his productions.  He accepts nothing less than 100% from his actors.”  The efforts of the director, cast and crew can be seen all over the Into the Woods stage.

The sponsor of this highly entertaining musical is James A. Schorner and Associates.

Tickets may be purchased on-line at http://www.verobeachtheatreguild.com or by calling the box office at (772) 562-8300 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, or visit the box office at 2020 San Juan Ave. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted. Wheelchair and companion seats must be purchased through the Box Office.

Patrons who purchased a single ticket for Don’t Dress for Dinner may apply their purchase toward a season ticket for the Vero Beach Theatre Guild’s 2013-14 season.  With shows like Into the Woods, Harvey, Kiss Me Kate and The Miracle Worker remaining in the season, a season ticket is sure to entertain!

The Vero Beach Theatre Guild is currently raising funds for the Vero Beach Theatre Guild Expansion Project.  The goal of the Expansion Project is the addition of a multi-story wing at the Guild’s San Juan Avenue location.  This new area will house much needed rehearsal space, dressing rooms and storage of the Guild’s many costumes and props.  The rehearsal space will also serve as an area for workshops and classes on Set Design, Directing and Acting.  In addition, it will allow for space for experimental theatre, black-box and “Reader’s Theater” offerings.  The roof will be an environmentally conscious “green” roof.  All of these changes will further improve the quality of the shows, events and educational opportunities available at Vero Beach’s very own community theatre.

The Guild is a live community theatre celebrating its 56th anniversary on the Treasure Coast.