(my notes from another board)
This was my first Amanda Denhart production I have seen . . .
The orchestra is huge because it's a mix of students and professional - sometimes it doesn't matter - sometimes it obvious.
I spent act one hating almost every single choice. The cast starting off in stylized street clothes and music stands - as if apologizing for the orchestra is on stage, and they change during the opening number. There are no trees, no woods - it's just on the Elizabethan stage. There is no real delineation between the narrator and the mysterious man - which is very odd - and I think confusing for my guest who had never seen the show before. The wolf is played by two actors, a deaf company member acting and signing the role, the prince singing it. It was very odd, but there sexuality seemed to be stripped from the Wolf/Red relationship. The wolf in the bed just looked very amateur - although some of their special effects later were quite fun, and rough magic - which was good. (I wish they would cut the pyro in Act 1). Some quite fun costumes, but Cinderella look like she was wearing a mother-of-the-bride dress (it was truly unflattering). I don't like the addition of the “Our Little World” – I feel like it’s un-needed, but, I think they did some very fun stuff with it. The biggest sin in this production’s act 1 is there is a lot of audience participation – they choose audience members to play the birds to pick up lentils, to be the hen, even to be the brown cow, there is a lot of interaction with the audience. This for me completely ruins the moment in Act 2 when they break the forth wall with the narrator – for me, one of the best moments in the show.- they were already aware there was a forth wall, they already had broken it. There are also a lot of “ad libs” and “contemporary references” – end of Act 1 includes some references to “Single Ladies” choreography in the oddest end of Act 1 I have seen.
Then Act 2 comes along, the sun is now set, it’s a darker play, it’s darker out. And I actually think Act 2 is pretty damn good. There are some wonderful choices – including a bit different orchestration at the end, some very interesting staging choices, and some great blocking for Agony reprise. My only minor quibbles are how the do the giant, and the since I never bought the father / narrator – his song with the son felt very hollow with me.
** END OF SPOILERS **
BUT . . performance wise, the performers are knocking it out of the park. I love Ms. Laube’s witch. The Rapunzel was fantastic. Great Baker and Baker’s wife (And some of the best staging of the wife / prince “moment”). Both of Princes are amazing. And the ending moved me in a way that the show had not quite done for.
So in a way, although the first act was not my cup of tea – the show left me floored.
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