January 07, 2005

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Publication Date: Friday, January 07, 2005

Unhappily ever after

When "once upon a time" does not end "happily ever after," this becomes the beginning of the Pleasanton Playhouse production of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods."

Opening on stage next Friday, this fairytale-gone-awry musical weaves the aftermath of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel together as a baker and his wife try to break a spell cast on them by a witch.

The witch casts a childless curse on the baker and his wife. The spell can be reversed if the barren couple collect specific objects, taken from characters in other stories.

The couple lies, steals and swindles their way through the tales as they seek to gather all of the spell-breaking ingredients. In the process, the other fable characters' wishes are granted.

But living the clichˇ that life is not always greener in the other pasture, the characters quickly find they must deal with the consequences of their realized wishes.

With Steve Shearer directing, the cast includes Jared Hussey playing the baker, Megan McGovern as the baker's wife, Jenifer Tice as the witch, Liz Caffrey as Cinderella, Morgan Breedveld as Little Red Riding Hood, Jenny Bruce as Rapunzel, and Danny Noble as Jack.

The play also features Moira Nash as Jack's mother, Robert Sholty and Chuck Taylor both play conceited princes, and Ken Blair narrates.

Produced by Kathleen Breedveld, the play's music director is Julia Hinkley and vocal director is Kim Correia.
Fractured fairytale

What: "Into the Woods" Where: Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road When: 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 14-30 Cost: Adults, $28; seniors over 60, $26; and juniors under 18, $20. Discounts available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets: Call 462-2121 or order online at www.pleasantonplayhouse.com

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