Sondheim's outrageous co-opting of our beloved fairy tales never gets old, and in this rendition of Into the Woods, the Lyric Stage Company rises to the musical challenges . It's sure to delight. Meanwhile, setting Stephen King to music was a mistake in the 1980s, and despite the Speakeasy's attempt to contextualize the story within how our society now views bullying, the play remains difficult to deliver.
Into the Woods Extended this week, it now plays at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through June 29th.
In this superb rendition of the Stephen Sondheim classic, a baker and his wife embark into the woods on a quest to reverse a curse laid on them by the Witch next door. Along the way they encounter an ambivalent Cinderella, an aggressive Red Riding Hood, a rebellious Rapunzel, a too-trusting Jack, and a couple of not-so-princely princes.` But when everyone’s wishes are granted, the consequences of their self-centered actions come to haunt them. Eventually they learn a moving life lesson about working together, the stories we tell our children, and the real meaning of “happily ever after."
Carrie Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company,it plays at the Calderwood Pavilion through June 7th.
Academy Award-winning composer Michael Gore takes on Stephen King’s debut novel to create Carrie the Musical. Carrie White is a Maine teen relentlessly bullied at school by the popular crowd and tormented at home by her fanatical mother. When she is unexpectedly invited to her senior prom, Carrie dares to dream that her life might finally improve. Little does she know, however, what cruelty her classmates have in store for her and what terrifying power her anger will unleash. Elizabeth Erardi plays Carrie, and says the desperate anger in Carrie's story is universal. She told me, "…there’s a little bit of the underdog and the bullied teenager in everybody and I think, I think she’s a relatable character."
Chef, In theaters now.
This is a feast of a film with a lovely father/son story at its core. When Chef Carl Casper quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity, he is left to figure out what’s next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife and his son to launch a food truck and find his independence.
Coming up on Open Studio: Tony-winning director Diane Paulus previews her Cirque du Soleil directorial debut, Amaluna, opening next week in Boston, and we have a look at the A.R.T’s enchanting Tempest with magic by Teller. We also chat with the star and director of SpeakEasy Stage’s Carrie.
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