Chumisa Dornford-May, Cinderella, in Into The Woods [Johan Persson]

STEPHEN Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1987 musical Into The Woods weaves together four of Grimms’ fairy-tales with the story of a baker (Jamie Parker) and his wife (Katie Brayben), cursed with childlessness. To break the spell, they are instructed by a witch (Kate Fleetwood) to enter the woods and find a white cow, a red cape, a golden shoe and hair as yellow as corn.

As they embark on their quest, the familiar stories unfold: Little Red Riding Hood (Gracie McGonigal) encounters the predatory wolf (Oliver Savile) while visiting her grandmother (Valda Aviks); Cinderella (Chumisa Dornford-May) yearns to go to the King’s festival and is gifted an exquisite dress; Rapunzel (Bella Brown), locked in her tower waits to be rescued by her prince (Rhys Whitfield ); and Jack (Jo Foster) trades his beloved cow for magic beans, climbs the beanstalk, steals from the Giant, and kills him.

In the first half of Jordan Fein’s slick, propulsive production, the characters determinedly chase their desires.

By the end of Act One, everyone appears to have their wishes granted, but Michael Gould’s Narrator urges us to return for more.

In Act Two things take a darker turn as the Giant’s widow wreaks her revenge and the characters have to come to terms with the consequences of their actions.

Sondheim’s themes of loss, responsibility and moral ambiguity come to the fore, underscored by Adam Fisher’s superb sound.

Much of the show is sung through, and the London Theatre Company has assembled a first-rate cast and orchestra under MD Mark Aspinall. Highlights include Fleetwood’s rendition of Witch’s Lament and the princes’ delightfully hammed-up duet, Agony.

Tom Scutt’s fabulous set and costumes ensure the production looks as good as it sounds – a feast for the ears and the eyes.

Until April 18
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