That after-Christmas interval can really feel anti-climactic, and plenty of performing arts organizations take a vacation break. That’s the place the RCM and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods come into the image, with a run that begins on December 28 and closes New Yr’s Eve.
It’s the third Sondheim manufacturing for the RCM after Follies in 2021 and A Little Night time Music in 2023, and brings again Richard Ouzounian to direct.
Sondheim’s Into the Woods
Sondheim wrote the musical to lyrics by frequent collaborator James Lapine, and it was first produced in 1986. The story makes use of the wealthy territory of Grimm’s fairy tales, bringing the characters to life in an effort to discover the concept of fortunately ever after… What occurs whenever you get what you need?
It ties collectively characters from Little Pink Driving Hood to Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel right into a story a couple of baker and his spouse, and their quest to start a household. The Witch locations a curse on the couple, and mayhem ensues.
The Tony-winning musical opened in San Diego and toured for a number of years. It’s been revived a number of instances since then on each side of the Atlantic.
The Expertise
The forged features a who’s who of Canadian theatre:
- Tess Benger as Cinderella (beforehand carried out in each Sondheim reveals on the RCM, and just lately starred as Carole King in Stunning in Montreal and Winnipeg);
- Gabi Epstein because the Baker’s Spouse (a Dora Award-winning performer and recording artist);
- Sara Farb because the Witch (beforehand carried out on the Stratford Pageant, and made her Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one in 2019);
- Eric Peterson because the Narrator/Mysterious Man (Canadian TV and theatre icon, recipient of the Governor Basic’s Lifetime Inventive Achievement Award);
- Mike Nadajewski because the Baker (just lately carried out in Speak is Free Theatre’s La Bête, a veteran of Stratford and Shaw, and had appeared in Jesus Christ Famous person on Broadway);
- Fiona Reid as Jack’s Mom/Large (a theatre icon with 5 seasons with the Stratford Pageant and 13 on the Shaw Pageant, together with a profession that has taken her to phases within the UK and US);
- With Nicole Pleasure-Fraser, Robert Markus, Ben Web page, and Heeyun Park 박희윤 ;
- That includes Dillan Chiblow, Elena Howard-Scott, Jillian Mitsuko Cooper, Will Parry, Emma Pennell, and Mirabella Sundar Singh.
Reside music comes courtesy of conductor Paul Sportelli and a 20-piece, on-stage orchestra that includes college students from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould Faculty. Genny Sermonia is the choreographer.
Richard Ouzounian directs the manufacturing, and we spoke to him about Into the Woods and extra.
Richard Ouzounian: The Interview
Why is Sondheim a favorite? “It’s as a result of the work is so innately theatrical,” he says. “It’s meant to be sung by these characters in these scenes.”
The piece this yr is a considerable one. “The rating for Into the Woods in 145 pages lengthy. There’s a variety of sections which are just about operatic in texture,” he provides. “It’s music theatre, and that’s why I prefer it.”
It’s additionally a certain strategy to get him concerned. “Any person mentioned, if you’d like Richard to work with you, recommend doing a Sondheim present,” he laughs, though as a caveat, he provides that he’s turned down Sweeney Todd, simply because the unique manufacturing he noticed was excellent.
Sondheim matches the music and lyrics collectively completely. “I identical to the way in which they at all times match the scene you’re in.”
As he factors out, his songs are likely to work effectively solely of their unique context. Aside from Ship within the Clowns, there have been none that actually crossed over from Broadway into the mainstream. Ship within the Clowns was additionally written in a single afternoon. “It’s an ideal instance of how Sondheim writes within the second. He’s a pleasure to work with. He’s troublesome, however he at all times rewards you.”
Into the Woods comes later in Sondheim’s profession, after his break up with lyricist Hal Prince, and was his second collaboration with Lapine. Sondheim was mentioned to have spent years in psychoanalysis; whether or not it’s true or not, he understood human nature, and that’s on the core of his attraction. It’s not secret that Sondheim had a troublesome relationship together with his mom, and was estranged from her for many years earlier than her dying. Into the Woods delves into the complexities of parent-child relationships, and most of the girls characters just like the Witch and Jack’s mom are terrible folks within the story.
“And actually, the massive quantity on the finish of the present is, Kids Will Pay attention,” Richard notes.
The Manufacturing
The manufacturing may be mentioned to be semi-staged. “I’ve my very own private guidelines for the way we do these.” There will probably be no music stands or binders on stage. “They’re sporting acceptable costumes.”
With a 20-piece orchestra on stage, units and surroundings aren’t possible.
“The one factor I’m doing completely different with this, which I don’t assume anybody has achieved up to now […] I’m simply going straight for it, and everyone seems to be costumed and taking part in somebody from Toronto in 2024.”
On this model, the Baker and his spouse run a enterprise within the Annex. “The Witch is homeless,” Ouzounian provides. The wealthy households come from North Toronto, and are ethnically numerous. “It’s somewhat completely different whenever you see it. It takes the subtext and brings it ahead.”
Fortunately, not a lot of the Large is required on stage. “Nearly every part else, we’ve discovered modern relevance for.” For Rapunzel, who’s imprisoned by the Witch, her stepmother, the answer was inventive. “I thought of it, what would you do immediately?” Richard says. “And so, she’s in CAMH dedicated, and Rapunzel is in a hospital robe.”
The variations add a recent and native contact, however don’t change the work. “We don’t change a syllable of the textual content lyric.”
The brand new parts have been standard in rehearsal. “All people within the forged is happy about it.” As he factors out, Into the Woods is so standard, it’s most likely one of the vital carried out highschool musical productions. Discovering a brand new edge was vital to set the present aside.
“I’m certain individuals are gong to say, yeah I’ve seen that present,” he says, “however you actually haven’t — I need to inform them.”
Last Ideas
As he factors out, it’s a narrative with a poignant message for the yr finish/new yr. At first, all the characters get what they need. As Ouzounian relates, within the early years after its premiere, when folks weren’t acquainted with the musical, audiences would go away after the primary act, assuming the story was over.
“In fact, it’s when folks discover out that what they wished isn’t what they actually wished.”
Act II is the place the actual story begins. “To me, it’s excellent,” he says, citing the materialism of the season, and society typically. “If I solely had this, I’d be comfortable.”
Whereas it offers with bigger themes, it’s additionally a household pleasant present. “Additionally, I consider, that for those who’re taking your loved ones out to the theatre, does it need to be senseless? I’m not saying that it’s essentially the most psychologically profound story,” he laughs, “however the music is improbable.” He’s utilizing the unique orchestration in its full type, one thing he factors out is uncommon these days.
Koerner Corridor has usually shuttered for that vacation week, however the experiment was producer Mervon Mehta’s concept. “There is no such thing as a Christmas carol singalong,” Ouzounian laughs. “It’s Into the Woods the way in which Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wrote it.”
He underscores the significance of collaborating with conductor Paul Sportelli. “We’re collaborators all down the road.” That features a non-public session with him and Paul and every performer to debate character and interpretation and different particulars earlier than the official staging rehearsals start. When blocking classes start, everybody is ready.
“We pay such respect to it.”
- Discover tickets and efficiency particulars [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.
