BWW Reviews: North Fork Community Theatre's INTO THE WOODS

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony award winning musical Into the Woods is produced fairly consistently since it premiered on Broadway in 1987. This certainly puts a great deal of pressure on the cast to breathe new life into this theatre staple. Fortunately, Director Brett Chizever, in a strong directorial debut, got the right cast to create a wonderful incarnation of the theatre staple.

The show, running through June 1st at the North Fork Community Theatre (a.k.a. NFCT) in Mattituck, entwines several familiar fairy tale characters exploring the consequences of their wishes. Cinderella wants to go to the Prince's Ball and Jack wants his beloved cow, Milky White, to produce milk. This is in addition to an original plot that centers around The Baker and his wife, portrayed by Matt Senese and Kristen Alestra, on their quest to begin a family.

Mr. Senese and Ms. Alestra are a great team and work really well together as a married couple complete with unwavering support for each other and the bickering it entails. A curse of infertility is placed upon them by their neighbor, the Witch, strikingly portrayed by Alexis Monetti. Highlights also include Isabel Alvarez who divinely portrays Cinderella and Patrick O'Brien who delightfully portrays Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk).

Also part of the talented cast is Long Island theatre vet Manning Dandridge as the Narrator wittily giving a running commentary of the events in the story. Additionally, Ella Watts, portraying Little Red Ridinghood, is a favorite having made her community proud as she was featured as Louisa Von Trapp in NBC's recent successful live television presentation of The Sound of Music this past winter. Overall, the large cast - many NFCT vets - is stellar.

Lori Connolly's attractive set and wonderful costumes are also on point. A rather fitting earthy, woodsy vibe adorns the stage and the costumes are beautiful and relevant. It is also a pleasure to see a live orchestra in the room. Leading the lively band is Music Director William Roslak with Lucinda Hemmick, Colin VanTuyl, Christian Wern, Zach Branker, Meghan, Marie Barbero, Daniel Gladstone, Aida Saltini, Frank Derasmo, and Karyn Torre.

And so, Into the Woods culminates an exciting 57th year for the legendary North Fork Community Theatre. The wonderful direction of Mr. Chizever and a top notch cast make for a wonderful night of theatre on Long Island's peaceful East End.

Into The Woods is presented by the North Fork Community Theatre of Mattituck through June 1st. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by James Lapine, Directed by Brett Chizever, Musical Direction by William Roslak, Produced by Mary Motto Kalich, Set & Costume Design by Lori Connolly, Stage Management by Liz Liszanckie, Choreography by Jenna Kavaler, Lighting Design by Charlie Scheer & David Scheer. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call (631) 298-4500 or visit www.nfct.com.