"Into the Woods" gets a delightful and satisfying interpretation from MunOpCo Music Theater with memorable acting, strong singing, attractive costumes and an eye-catching set.
The classic Stephen Sondheim musical is at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1533 Hamilton St., Allentown, through Feb. 25.
The musical takes well-known fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Cinderella, follows them to their conclusion and then darkly imagines what happens after "happily ever after."
Sean McFarland, who plays the Baker who must gather items to break a witchs spell, is engagingly bumbling at first and ably conveys the characters growth through the story.
As the Bakers Wife, Miki Fuentes has one of the most complex roles in the show, and Fuentes does an impressive job with the part, making the character sympathetic, stubborn and strong.
Her voice is strong and her song "Moments in the Woods" is a highlight.
Alyssa Steiners Cinderella is appealing and compellingly uncertain. Her soaring soprano shines in her songs "Hes a Very Nice Prince" and "On the Steps of the Palace."
As Jack, Alejandro Rodriguez is engaging as the simple youth who has to take his "friend" Milky White the cow to market, and he nails his big song "There are Giants in the Sky."
Angel DAndria does a great job manipulating Milky White, giving the puppet lots of expressiveness and making it a real character.
Angelina Dries is perfectly sassy and brazen as Little Red Riding Hood. She does a great job on her song "I Know Things Now."
Jacks mother is played with high-strung energy by Moriah Faith.Nina Metrick is wonderfully menacing as the Witch and is powerful on her songs "Last Midnight" and "Children Will Listen."
Jake Hare is perfectly self-absorbed and pompous as Cinderellas not-quite-so-charming Prince. Ryan Zickafoose is humorously competitive as his brother “ Rapunzels Prince.The two princes duet "Agony" is hilarious.
Connor Roberts gives an appropriately creepy note to the role of the Wolf on "Hello, Little Girl."Lana Brucker and Shy Torres have fun in the over-the-top roles of Cinderellas stepsisters; Lauren Erb gives an imperious note to Cinderellas stepmother and Deanna Mogianesi is appealing as the sweetly-singing Rapunzel.
Director Daniel Petrovich deftly handles the action, holding it together nicely when there are multiple stories on stage at the same time, while music director Nancy Broadbent does an admirable job with Sondheims complex music.
Of particular note is the lovely quartet "No One is Alone," sung by McFarland, Steiner, Rodriguez and Dries which is a memorable moment in the second act.
Scenic designer Lauren Curley has created an impressive and moody tree-filled backdrop of the woods enhanced by a three-dimensional tree in the foreground and Nathan Kuhns costumes look just right.
Kudos to the propmaster Alberto Gancitano for some icky prop effects in Cinderellas story.
Performances are 7 p.m. Feb. 23 and 24; and 2 p.m. Feb. 25.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $22 for seniors; $15 for students and free for children under age 5.
For information, call 610-437-2441 or go to www.munopco.org/.