{"id":110672,"date":"2024-12-30T10:17:39","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T15:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=110672"},"modified":"2024-12-30T13:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T18:00:01","slug":"scrutiny-koerner-halls-woods-sparkles-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/12\/30\/scrutiny-koerner-halls-woods-sparkles-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"SCRUTINY | Koerner Hall\u2019s Into The Woods Sparkles With Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gabi
Gabi Epstein as The Baker’s Wife and Mike Nadajewski as The Baker in Into The Woods at Koerner Hall (Photo: Taylor Long)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

RCM & Koerner Hall\/Into the Woods, book by James Lapine, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, choreographed by Genny Sermonia, music direction by Paul Sportelli, directed by Richard Ouzounian, Koerner Hall, closes Dec. 31. Tickets here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There is something to be said for a concert version of a big Broadway musical. Shorn of scenery and big production numbers, the intimate nature of the show reveals not only richer characterizations, but a better understanding of the relationship between the orchestra and the singers.<\/p>\n

Such is the performance of Stephen Sondheim\u2019s beloved Into the Woods (1986) currently running at Koerner Hall.<\/p>\n

Background and Story<\/h3>\n

After the success of Sunday in the Park with George (1984), composer\/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and playwright James Lapine decided to create a fairytale themed musical for their second collaboration. After several false starts, the duo intertwined several Grimm Brother\u2019s stories including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel. They also created a linking subplot about a Baker and his Wife who have to lift a curse put on them by a Witch in order to have a child.<\/p>\n

The first act ending sees all the wishes of the characters being granted and everyone is happy after their adventures in the woods.<\/p>\n

The second act takes a darker tone as the characters have to deal with the consequences of their wishes coming true. In fact, the act is an adventure of diminishing returns as the characters begin to disappear, mostly being killed by a marauding Giantess bent of revenge.<\/p>\n

At the end, only Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, and the Baker and his newborn son are left alive to face an uncertain future.<\/p>\n

\"The
The cast of Stephen Sondheim\u2019s Into The Woods Courtesy of The Royal Conservatory, Koerner Hall (Photo: Lisa Sakulensky)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cast<\/h3>\n

Into the Woods features a huge cast, and this production fielded 14 singers who gave uniformly strong performances. They were rewarded by a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause throughout the show following each song.<\/p>\n

There are standouts, particularly Gabi Epstein<\/strong> (Baker\u2019s Wife), Sara Farb<\/strong> (Witch), Mike Nadajewski<\/strong> (Baker) and Fiona Reid<\/strong> (Jack\u2019s mother and the voice of the Giant).<\/p>\n

Above all, there is the supremely talented Robert Markus<\/strong> who absolutely nails both the cunning Wolf and Cinderella\u2019s smitten Prince. There is something extra in Markus\u2019 performance that rivets the eye.<\/p>\n

A new discovery, for me at least, is Indigenous soprano Emma Pennell<\/strong> (Cinderella\u2019s Mother) who is blessed with a delectably mellow voice of delicate sweetness. It caresses the ear. Also, kudos to Charlotte Moore (Cinderella\u2019s Stepmother) who stepped in to replace Nicole Joy-Fraser who withdrew due to the loss of her mother.<\/p>\n

I always love the \u201cAgony\u201d songs performed by the two Princely Brothers, Cinderella\u2019s Prince and Rapunzel\u2019s Prince. They are my favourite numbers in the musical. In the first act, the Princes are pining for their beloveds, but in the second act reprise, these two cheaters are longing for new loves \u2014 Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Markus and Indigenous performer Dillan Chiblow<\/strong> did not disappoint, giving hilariously passionate performances in both numbers.<\/p>\n

Here is trivia for you.<\/p>\n

In the Broadway show, when the entire cast of characters, both alive and dead, gather for the finale, the two Princes actually appear with their new inamoratas, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, which is always a shock.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, this did not happen in this concert version.<\/p>\n

\"Gabi
Gabi Epstein as The Baker’s Wife and Mike Nadajewski as The Baker in Into The Woods at Koerner Hall (Photo: Taylor Long)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Production<\/h3>\n

The set is 14 chairs in a row with a trunk in the middle, which meant that Richard Ouzounian<\/strong> had to direct on the long, and he did a terrific job of moving the action lengthwise, so to speak.<\/p>\n

This concert version treats the show as a series of vignettes which gave us a chance to really see character and relationships in a clearly defined way. Ouzounian ensured that each episode would be vibrant with life and the show just sparkled with energy.<\/p>\n

We have to give a big shout out to lighting designer Arun Srinivasan<\/strong> who helped promote each character grouping with his pin-spot lighting, and choreographer Genny Sermonia<\/strong> who created attractive movement in a very narrow space.<\/p>\n

Ellie Koffman<\/strong>\u2019s costumes are apparently vintage clothing gathered from all over the GTA, but the modernist dress worked.<\/p>\n

\"The
The cast of Stephen Sondheim\u2019s Into The Woods Courtesy of The Royal Conservatory, Koerner Hall (Photo: Lisa Sakulensky)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Music<\/h3>\n

Which brings us to the music.<\/p>\n

Paul Sportelli<\/strong> is the guru behind all the Shaw Festival\u2019s musicals, so he comes from greatness. He led the 17-member Glenn Gould School Chamber Orchestra in a brilliantly nuanced reading of the score, orchestrated by the legendary Jonathan Tunick. Sondheim\u2019s clever lyrics with their \u201cinfernal internal\u201d rhymes, as I call them, were matched with brilliance, note for note. I heard the music as conversation.<\/p>\n

Themes<\/h3>\n

There are lots of themes inherent in this musical.<\/p>\n

You have the difficulty of parent-child relationships, the adage of be careful what you which for and the dangers of over-weaning self-interest, the fact that choices have consequences, the importance of responsibility to the community, and finally, take care in what you say because \u201cChildren will listen\u201d, as the song says.<\/p>\n

The more times I experience Into the Woods, the more this musical becomes a vehicle advocating morality and moral clarity.<\/p>\n

In 1986 when the show debuted, HIV\/AIDS was ravaging the land, and many took the Giant marauding through the woods to be a metaphor for this devastating disease.<\/p>\n

Sadly, in 2024, we have many dangerous and damaging Giants to choose from across the worldwide canvas to be our new metaphor.<\/p>\n

Sondheim\u2019s Into the Woods becomes more relevant with each passing year.<\/p>\n

A Final Note<\/h3>\n

And one final note to RCM\/Koerner Hall.<\/p>\n

Please keep giving us Sondheim musicals.<\/p>\n

Are you looking to promote an event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong>
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Director Richard Ouzounian ensured that each episode of Into The Woods at Koerner Hall would be vibrant with life and the show just sparkled with energy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":110675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,4780,52,62,63],"tags":[1876,40152,6283],"yst_prominent_words":[6606,32217],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/Copy-of-REVIEW-2024-12-30T101536.564.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-sN2","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110672"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110672"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110685,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110672\/revisions\/110685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110672"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=110672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}