The Garland Civic Theatre continues its run of “Into the Woods,” in the small theatre at the Granville Arts Center in downtown Garland. The book was written by James Lapine and music and lyrics were created by Stephen Sondheim. The show is directed by Kyle McClaran.
The play itself is what happens when several classic Disney characters are set in a faraway universe. And the cast does an artful job of recreating Sondheim’s vision. From the start the audience can’t help but be swept into the fast-paced, fanciful journey along with the rest of the company.
The intimate set is decorated like a whimsical forest. The cast does an amazing job of utilizing every inch of it, singing their lines in unison, round, and tag-team fashions while rotating positions around the set like an expertly choreographed dance. The first act of the play illustrates what happens when every character gets what they ask for, and the shenanigans that ensue accordingly. This eventually sets each character up for their fall back to reality later in the play.
Because the first act ends somewhat true to form to what people familiar with the traditional characters would expect, the adventure truly begins when act two starts. This is where Sondheim veers from the script, and by the time intermission began, audience members were discussing where the storyline could go from there. Both the show and cast set themselves up to meet high expectations, and they do not disappoint.
“Into the Woods” is an enjoyable experience for everyone, especially for families looking for a fun event to enjoy together. Make sure you support the Garland Civic Theatre by attending one of the six remaining performances of “Into the Woods.”
Visit www.garlandcivictheatre.org for dates, show times and ticket information.