Written By: Amelia Chavez, Staff Writer
MAGICAL: The Poly Theater brings magic to life in a new play.
A magical and captivating story unfolds at Poly’s Theater, as they prepare to put on Into The Woods. An original Sondheim classic that first premiered in San Diego, California, at the Old Globe Theatre on December 4, 1986. The audience travels through the woods as a Baker and his wife try to lift the curse placed upon their family. Along the way, they encounter various fairytale characters such as Cinderella, Jack, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood.
We see the trials and tribulations of every character, from getting the prince to slaying the wolf. The Baker and his wife must acquire an item from each story, intertwining them. “The cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold.” They must get these items to break the curse and attain a child. However many dangers lay in the woods, constantly keeping the audience on edge, as we wait for that Happily Ever After to come. It’s a story that illustrates life, love, and loss in the form of childhood tales.
Picture taken by: Luis Sosa
However, this story isn’t all happy endings. It also explores darker themes such as fidelity and revenge, drawing much of its inspiration from the original Grimm Fairy Tales, rather than the idealized Disney version. Much like the Grimm’s stories, it displays the true morals of every character. As the show progresses these morals change, sometimes altering completely. The entire musical draws parallels between stories and life. The story is narrated through musical and lyrical rhymes and songs
This is to emerge one in the story, yet it never once takes away from its theme, making it a memorable experience and well-executed play.
Since September, Poly’s theater has been working tirelessly to bring this story to life. It is with great honor that all the actors take on these roles to perform an iconic musical. Student directors, Geki Smith (11) and Mylo Ortega(11), have coordinated this musical along with the help of Mr. Makermorse. “We’ve worked 24/7 on this play. I can’t wait to see how we all pull this together” stage manager Luis Sosa (11) stated. This entire process has been reliant on teamwork, with everyone giving up their time to make this show possible.
“It’s amazing to watch the growth of every actor throughout this process,” Sosa explained. Each person has put in an insurmountable amount of time and effort. You grow, not only as an actor, but you also get to meet new people. “It’s been such a fun experience to share with my best friends,” Hayden Macintosh (11) said. It’s this type of dedication that makes Poly’s play so magical. This production is sure to go down in Poly theater history, so stop by and see for yourself.