Into The Woods
Western Alamance High School

Western Alamance High School’s rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Into the Woods” was a delightful performance. The comical play provided a night of escape as the audience partook in the actors’ journeys into the woods.

The play was a blend of popular fairy tales and children’s stories combined to form a comedic story of perseverance, friendship, and love. Featuring Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk., and Cinderella, the play quickly became a child’s greatest dream. The variety of characters and personalities aided in the telling of this two act musical.

With a basic set design and simple costumes, Western Alamance put together an entertaining show. The cast and tech crew endured minor audio malfunctions, but managed to move past the static and problems with the microphones without hesitation.

The opening scene introduced several characters at once and their problems were immediately disclosed to the audience. With different issues and separate lives, the characters came together as they ventured into the woods to resolve their conflicts and discover love. The two main characters, the baker and his wife, were unable to bear a child and sought help from an old witch, who promised them a child if they were able to acquire four random items. These random items were the possessions of the other character who also went into the woods for reasons all their own.

The eagerness of the Baker and his wife, the innocence of Little Red Riding Hood, and the sinister yet comedic presence of the wicked Witch came together to form a diverse and entertaining cast. The dark and ominous woods became the source of chaos and adventure as the characters struggled to satisfy their desires. The characters ventured into the woods for completely different reasons, but were united by their teamwork and need to travel through the forest.

“Into the Woods” was a refreshing fairy tale filled with powerful melodies and energetic cast. Western Alamance made it possible for audience members to travel, just for a couple of hours, into a world where magic beans are used as currency.