Gilbert & Sullivan Society of SA. Arts Theatre. 24 Sep 22. Matinee
Shake off the winter blues and get thee to the theatre. Now.
For affordable ticket prices, there is a stunning, slick production of one of the great Sondheim spectaculars: Into the Woods.
G&S has long been a force to be admired and it seems only to grow more and more so with the way in which it rounds up impeccable talent.
It is hard to pick a hole in this Gordon Combes-directed production.
Into The Woods arrived on Broadway in 1987 and, with its book by James Lapine and the artistry of Sondheim’s music and lyrics, it swept into the canon of popular musicals, dissecting, as it does, the fairy tales on which we were all brought up, hypothesising on their pschyo-pathologies, and switching their fates around. Its operatic nature makes it glorious grit for the styles of the G&S Society and, as access to technological marvels has improved, its big-budget Broadway production values can be effectively emulated; superbly, as is the case in this production.
A diligent and detail-conscious team is behind this show. Gordon Combes with Anne Humphries are responsible for a panoply of terrific costumes with Vanessa Le Shirley on wigs and, of course, the tight discipline of musical director Jillian Gulliver delivering the goods from the pit. Combes also has achieved impressive effects with his set design, a series of screens illuminating views and the glory of birds which are key to much of the magic of one of the old fairy tales.
The production is tight. It is a long show, the first act veritably a show in itself, but Combes keeps it as taut as a tick with Celeste Barone enabling the snappy choreography. And the performers, in their own merit, keep the audience engaged with their characters and their destinies.
It is a large cast, too many to mention.
Some are new faces and one can’t wait to see more of them. Sam Mannix shines forth playing both Red Riding Hood’s Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella’s handsome Prince. Not only is he possessed of a wonderful voice but also the most delicious comedic skill. The simple flicking of his princely hair is enough to bring the house down. All his entrances and exits are funny. Indeed, he is funny just standing there in character. New also to G&S is Liliana Carletti, another comic talent with a great voice. Her first scene as Little Red Riding Hood evoked spontaneous cheers from the audience.
Megan Humphries is anything but a newcomer. She’s an oft-commended veteran whose considerable vocal skills are truly exercised between melodic singing and the strident cackles and screams demanded of her as The Witch. Jared Frost, playing The Baker, remains entirely appealing and an asset to the stage with Catherine Breugelmans impeccable as his wife. Then there are Emily Morris as Cinderella and Buddy Munro-Dawson valiantly embodying the juvenile Jack, both splendid, as are Danielle Greaves, Deborah Caddy, Nadine Wood, Alleysha Nicholls, Dominic Hodges, James McClusky-Garcia, and indeed, one and all. Such a strong cast. Such a great show.
Understandably, the good word is out and the G&S is packing ‘em in - so don’t delay.
Samela Harris
When: 24 Sep to 1 Oct
Where: Arts Theatre
Book: gandssa.com.au
