Into the Woods

CATS Youth Theatre

St Catherine’s Academy, Harwood

INTO the Woods by Stephen Sondheim is a fractured fairy tale which includes all the famous Grimm's characters, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of the beanstalk) and a Wicked Witch amongst others.

The main story revolves around a baker and his wife who learn they have been cursed with childlessness by the witch next door and how they embark on a quest for some special objects.

These include a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold which are all required to break the spell.

On their travels they bump into the fairytale characters including a giant who steps down from the heavens and straight upon some beloved characters.

It may seem dark but that is Sondheim for you and what begins as a fairytale fantasy becomes a lesson on how we all need to work together.

The cast and crew set upon this difficult piece under the direction of Louise Cohen and produced a polished production.

The company, lead by the narrator Alex O’Loughlin, gave some wonderful performances — too many to mention — but Ben Whitehead and Amelia Atherton, as the baker and his wife, were first class, very mature performances.

Joseph Foster and Melissa Ratcliffe and Jack and his mum were a great double act. Em Cohen was a very cheeky Little Red Riding Hood and really worked that role.

Rebecca Bolton as Cinderella gave a controlled performance, backed up by Laura Cunliffe, Abi Dyson and Caitlin Wineyard as her stepmother and sisters. Maisie Melia-Redgrave was great as Rapunzel.

Dominic Gannon and Tim O’Callaghan both camped it up and turned on the charm as Rapunzel’s Prince and Cinderella’s Prince respectively.

Full honours must go to Katie Ball as the Wicked Witch. A great interpretation, funny, dramatic but truly wicked.

The stage management team, as always, must be congratulated as well, their contribution helped with the slickness and polish of the production. A thoroughly enjoyable production.

Jason Crompton