CEDAR HILLS — There is something magical about crossing a stream, sitting beneath clusters of trees, and watching fairy tales come to life right before your eyes. This is the whimsical setting that Creekside Theatre Fest’s production of Into the Woods provides for the audience. The ambiance of rushing water, chirping crickets, birdsong, and a setting sun paired beautifully with the poignant music by Stephen Sondheim, and book by James Lapine.
Into The Woods is a classic musical – one that is seen frequently in Utah – and for good reason. The first act weaves the fairytales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel together through the quest of a Baker and his wife to break a witch’s curse and have a child. Act two presents the consequences of “happily ever after” and brings these characters together to work through grief to find healing. Director David Walker said in his director’s note, “Like most good stories, the center [of Into the Woods] is our relationships with the people and community around us.” This emphasis on relationships is very clear in his directing. This is not a production that is dripping with spectacle. Due to the limitations presented by any outdoor production, the set, costume, lighting, and sound design are simple and effective. The real star of the show is the story and the relationships between the characters.
David Peterson as the Baker and Shaunna Thompson as the Baker’s Wife.
The Baker and Baker’s Wife, played by David Peterson and Shaunna Thompson respectively, have a wonderful mix of sweet affection and tension. Even within the unrealistic, whimsical circumstances, the stakes feel high and their emotional fights feel very real. Individually, Peterson presents an earnest and sweet Baker, making his Act 2 disillusionment all the more painful. Thompson has a powerful voice that pairs beautifully with strong choices and raw emotion in songs such as “Maybe They’re Magic” and “Moments In the Woods.” Another very strong moment from Thompson was “Any Moment,” an Act 2 duet with Cinderella’s Prince, played by Kyle Burch, who consistently provides incredibly rich vocals as both the Prince and the Wolf. Both the direction and acting in this scene creates a whirlwind of events that the characters very easily got caught up in, making it one of the most believable and motivated versions of this song that I have seen.
An unexpected moment that stood out was “A Very Nice Prince” – as well as its various reprises – a scene shared between the Baker’s Wife and Cinderella, played by Avery Hawkins. While this relationship is not often emphasized in other productions, there is something special about how these two actresses connect in this production. Hawkins’ Cinderella has a beautiful youthfulness and softness that contrasts nicely with the maturity and power of Thompson’s Baker’s Wife. The similarities and differences between these women are displayed clearly, and this creates a very interesting on-stage dynamic. Additionally, this adds depth of relationship and additional interest to certain moments in Act 2. Hawkins as Cinderella also shines in her own right, she has a crystal-clear voice that rang out beautifully in “On the Steps of the Palace” and “No One is Alone.”
Another stand out performance is from Tiffany Nutter as the Witch. This character not only requires strong vocals, but also nuanced characterization, combining a zany wicked witch with a loving – if misguided – mother. Nutter delivers on all counts. Though she shows remarkable range in vocal style through her all of her songs, “Stay With Me” and “Last Midnight” are special highlights. Additionally, her vocal and acting choices are very clearly informed by the music, a skill that is essential for singing Sondheim in particular. She utilizes strong physical and vocal characterization to create a character that feels straight from a fairytale, while still remaining grounded and nuanced.
One of the joys of this show is that it finds moments to highlight even smaller characters. Cinderella’s Stepfamily, played by Julie Burgess, Bo Chester, and Kat Balenzatagui, provide wonderful comic relief with bold characters and choices. The Narrator/Mysterious Man, played by Kolton Nielsen, plays his dual roles with wonderful specificity. Also, Ash Peterson as Milky White is simply charming.
A particularly fun moment is when Jack, played endearingly by Cade Marshall, gets Milky White a drink from the real stream that was flowing next to the stage. The use of the space is one of the strongest elements of this production. For example, Little Red, played by the darling Kylie Christensen, could be seen skipping around real trees while the Wolf lurked behind. Characters are up in trees, crossing bridges, grabbing sticks from the stream to use as a sword, and in many other ways really interacting with the “woods” around them. The setting was really perfect for a production of Into the Woods and is something that makes it stand out compared to other versions.
As wonderful as this setting was, it does also provide certain challenges. The most noticeable being the need for pre-recorded tracks opposed to live music. Live music is impractical for many community theatre productions, but especially for outdoor ones. Tracks are challenging for any musical, sometimes actors are forced to wait through awkward pauses, rush through lines, or even skip things to line up with the music. This is even trickier for music as sophisticated as one by Sondheim. However, this cast deals with this challenge splendidly. While they experience occasional missteps, wonderful work done by music director Maren Hansen helps the performers and the sound crew make this a much smaller issue than it might have been, and all group vocal numbers are very strong.
Kylie Christensen as Little Red Riding Hood and Kyle Burch as the Wolf.
Another thing for audiences to keep in mind when seeing this production is to come prepared for a long outdoor show. The runtime of the show is a bit under three hours, so bring what you need to stay comfortable for the duration. There is no provided seating, so bring a blanket to sit on or even a camping chair. I would also recommend bringing bug spray and a blanket as temperatures dip after sunset.
Creekside Theatre Fest’s production of Into the Woods is full of heart and the charm of the outdoors. It is the perfect way to spend a summer night. Let the sound of Sondheim fill your life and go see Into the Woods today!
