Review Theatre: Into the Woods | Upstairs at the Gatehouse

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The Review - THEATRE by RICHARD OSLEY
Published: 30 December 2008

An enchanting stroll through the woods

INTO THE WOODS
Upstairs at the Gatehouse

INTO The Woods is a triumph, a departure from the normal rock’n’roll beat which emanates from Highgate village at this time of year, but nevertheless still a triumph.
It’s built on hard work, a talented cast assembled at Upstairs At The Gatehouse and a bit of magic from the master lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who created this wonderful – albeit complicated – meeting of fairytales.
Nowhere else but in this misty world of woods, palaces and
turrets (all above a pub at the village crossroads) will you find Little Red Riding Hood shaking hands with Jack from Jack And The Beanstalk and Cinderella trading exchanges with Rapunzel.
Throw in a witch scary enough to give the kids in the front row a fright or two, some
magic beans and Paul Nicholas (Vince from Just Good Friends) appearing as a hologram narrator – and what more could you want?
Some decent songs? There are those too, although this show isn’t about knockout numbers. Instead, the craft is in the effortless lyrics which zip from one witty line to another before you can catch breath.
It’s a wonder that not a word was missed as a series of plots and sub plots meld into one.
Shimi Goodman and Alexander Branford shine as two campy comedy princes. Dominic Brewer excels as The Baker in search of ingredients for a mystic brew, perhaps only outdone by Rachel Bingham as The Baker’s Wife, who captures the puzzling world these characters are mischievously thrown into by Sondheim. She was marvellous.
This is the seventh seasonal musical in a row I’ve seen at this theatre, and there is a reason I keep going back. It’s usually rock’n’roll thrills but a more sedate stroll into the woods was just as absorbing.
Until February 1
020 8340 3488

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