Review: INTO THE WOODS, JR and Into Our Hearts

I wish.... I wish... more than anything that eveyone in the valley had a chance to see Treausre Valley Youth Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS, JR.

The show opened with the usual director's speech, with the director and producer, which became unusual and entertaining with a rap about the sponsors. And the show began.

The production was at Cenntennial High School in the smaller auditorium, which made the production a bit more cozy. It was great because then the youth didn't have to strain their voices to be heard and they were not miked. They had strong, clear voices. It is great to hear the talent that the youth have here in the valley. We will be in good shape as long as a majority of them stay here, but those who leave we will at least be able to say "we heard them when."

We kmow the stories as they have been told for centuries. INTO THE WOODS, JR is a mixing and slight retelling of those stories. They all know each other and interact. The witch sent the baker and his wife on a journey to break a curse she had placed on them. The items are from other fairy tales: the cow as white as milk (Jack and the Beanstalk), the cape as red as blood (Little Red Riding Hood), the hair as yellow as corn (Rapuntzel), and the slipper as pure as gold (Cinderella). Which they collect in the first act. And all ends in happy endings.

These youth are wonderful to watch and are a strong ensemble. It is great to see such talent and what appears to be a great cast.