UoN’s Musos took on the production of Sondheim and Lapine’s “Into the Woods”, a well-known challenge within the industry. Refusing to bow to opening night nerves, the cast was admirable, and put on a cracker took on the pressure of opening night nerves, and put on a cracker of performance for their first night show!
Singing, dancing, and acting their way through the performance, the cast transported us into their world of magic and fairytales, with each and every performer putting their all into the show.
The show featured jaw-dropping performances from some show-stopping singers, with their voices and belief in their characters bringing me to tears at all the best moments. Opening night comes with the inevitable occasional issue with timing and cues, but we watched the characters believably progress and grow into themselves. The characters, like the magical beanstalk itself, grew in confidence and timing as the performance went on, and the show will no doubt climb higher in quality and grow stronger with every show.
Aside from the acting, the set design and stage use were phenomenal. The cast had very limited space to perform such an intense play with complex staging, and they managed it extraordinarily well. The props deserved recognition of their own and were incredibly well-suited to the vibe and experience of the show.
Opening night technical issues aside (those flimsy radio mics strike again!!), massive kudos to the tech crew, especially the conductor—he was on his feet but never missed a beat.
I would have loved to see a few more original takes on the characters and scenes, but overall, I recommend this as an enjoyable play, a good evening’s entertainment, and an enjoyable rendition of the popular 1986 play.
With only two sessions left, please show your support for upcoming local talent and book your tickets quickly here at https://www.newcastle.edu.au/events/community-and-alumni/the-conservatorium/into-the-woods-presented-by-uon-musos
Showtimes:
Friday, 13th of September: 6:30-9:30pm
Saturday, 14th of September: 1-4pm, 6:30-9:30pm
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
