KENT-TRUMBULL THEATRE 'Into the Woods' is sure to enchant audiences

The lighting, scenery and music are spectacular.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHAMPION -- The arts have always been a powerful way to make a statement about society, whether it be a political, moral or other issue. Some art sneaks up on its audience, giving a first impression of being humorous and whimsical, but then forcing it to confront questions it might want to avoid.
Stephen Sondheim's masterful musical "Into the Woods" is one such work of art, and it is now playing at Kent-Trumbull Theatre. This production is unsurpassed, an absolute must-see, with spectacular music, scenery, lighting and special effects, and a superior cast.
It is really a distorted combination of numerous fairy tales, where all the characters interact with each other. It takes place in a woods, the typical setting for magic and enchantment. But many of us forget that fairy tales were written with a message, a moral lesson. Most are based on a battle of good and evil, much like our modern "Harry Potter" or "Lord of the Rings."
In this story, the boundaries of good and evil aren't quite so well-defined. In the first act, we see all the good guys win, and the bad guys punished, yet -- and here is the sneaky bit -- we also see the good guys making decisions that involve harming another to get what they want, justifying it because they are the good guys.
Questions emerge
But in Act 2, all isn't "happily ever after." It is more like "what goes around comes around." The princes are cheating on their princesses, and everyone is fighting. They find that what they thought they had to have to be happy is a double-edged sword. We are now faced with a slew of questions. Is killing ever justified? Can we run away from mistakes and bad decisions? Those whom we thought were the evil ones now seem like the victims.
In the song "Last Midnight," the witch says: "You're not good, you're not bad, you're just nice -- I'm not good, I'm not nice. I'm just right." The enchanting fairy tale has become a scene of violence and hatred.
In the beautiful song "No More," the Baker pleads for it all to stop. As he and Jack prepare to slay the Giant's wife, who has come down the beanstalk to avenge her husband's murder, they sing "No One is Alone": "While we're seeing our side, maybe we forgot: They are not alone. No one is alone." It's a very poetic way of saying there are two sides to every dispute.
Even though the ultimate message of the musical is serious, the play itself is very humorous, enchanting and captivating.
The scenery is sheer magic: Spells are cast and broken in puffs of smoke and sparkles. The music is divine, much in rhyming poetry, and the witch even does some rap.
"Into the Woods" continues through July 30, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Call (330) 675-8887 for ticket information.