When esteemed Artistic Director Eric Shaeffer formed Signature Theatre 13 years ago, he put up stellar productions, mostly Stephen Sondheim musicals, in the converted garage space on S. Four Mile Run Dr. Three months ago, he moved the venerable company a few blocks away in the vibrant neighborhood of Shirlington Village to a much bigger, elegant two-story complex. Unlike the cramped garage, the new $16 million complex has a sky-high glass facade- a sight to behold. Inside, a sweeping two-story staircase leads from the ground floor box office to a stylish lobby. Inside the Max( the larger of two new theaters), the close proximity to the stage remains unchanged.
Last week, Signature unveiled its new
home with- what else?-another Stephen Sondheim classic, “Into The Woods.” This
darkly comic musical premiered on Broadway in 1987 and won three Tony awards.
On opening night, Eric Schaeffer and managing director Sam Sweet warmly greeted
by the entrance stairway patrons, theatre people and media.
Mr. Sondheim and librettist James Lapine
melds the fairy tales of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Little Red Riding
Hood,” “Cinderella,” and “Rapunzel” with a new tale involving a baker and
his wife who go through the woods trying to break a witch’s curse.
Act 1 is about the fairy tale characters
getting but they wished for but at a price and the assumption that they will
live happily ever after. Little Red Riding Hood is hounded by the Wolf whom she
soon pouches, the baker and his wife are adamant to break the witch’s curse.
The witch tries to protect Rapunzel by keeping her locked up in the tower.
Cinderella and Rapunzel meet and fall in love with princes portrayed here
as vain and shallow. Act 2 shatters that myth as the characters must deal
with reality and an angry giant, voiced by film and stage legend Angela
Lansbury.
Cast standouts in an already outstanding
cast are Stephanie Waters as Cinderella, Daniel Cooney as the baker, the
effervescent Erin Driscoll as Rapunzel who shines in her number “Our Little
World,” Lauren Williams as feisty and sassy Little Red Riding Hood, James Moye
as Prince Charming who is mesmerizing in his number “Agony,” Stephen Gregory
Smith as naive Jack and Signature co-founder Donna Migliaccio as Jack’s mother.
Kudos to set and costume designer Robert
Perdziola creates an enchanting forest of exquisite foliage and stone stairs
leading to the orchestra. Jon Kalbfleisch and his superb 15-piece orchestra.
I highly reommend this enormously
entertaining show to other theatergoers, especially fans of Stephen’s Sondheim.
The knockout score and performances alone are worth the trip to Signature.
“Into The Woods” music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim Directed by Eric Schaeffer till Feb. 25 at Signature Theatre
S. Stafford St. Arlington, Va. With Priscilla Cuellar, Eleasha Gamble, Stepen
Cupo, Dana Krueger and Harry A. Winter
820-9771 or visit www.signaturetheatre.org.
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