The Cast Photo courtesy of La Comedia Dinner Theatre

Into the Woods intertwines various classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood, with new ones (primarily a witch and a baker and his wife) as the characters seek to have their wishes come true. They must then learn to live with the unforeseen consequences of reaching their dreams and the actions they took to achieve them.

The book by James Lapine is innovative, fast-paced, and full of commentary on the trials and tribulations of parenthood, marriage and loss. Healthy doses of comedy and wit are also present, and the story is well-conceived and structurally strong. The plot turns more serious in Act 2, but also becomes more emotionally impactful.

Sondheim's score features music that is complex yet also melodically appealing and accessible. The dense and insightful lyrics demonstrate ingenious wordplay throughout. This score is one of Sondheim's most underrated due to the lack of multiple stand-out individual songs in comparison to some of his other scores, but shows off the master's skills at their best as a whole. Song highlights include the complex opening sequence as the audience is introduced to most of the main characters, "Giants In the Sky," "Last Midnight" (where the witch menacingly chastises other characters for their selfishness and lack of foresight), the hauntingly beautiful "Children Will Listen," and the touching "No One Is Alone."

As the Baker, Luka Ashley Carter skillfully captures the anxiety and heartfelt passion of the character, and sings well throughout. Meghan Slowik is delightfully fierce and menacing as the Witch and shows off vocal dexterity. Into the Woods provides ample opportunity for the many supporting performers to shine, and they thankfully do in this production. Elliot Chilcote (Jack), Mary Ann Sprague (Baker's Wife), Catie Cumings (Cinderella), Linda Dew (Jack's Mother and Granny), and Carly J. Shepard (Cinderella's Mother/Giantess) are particularly strong vocally, while Allison Gabert (Little Red Riding Hood), Max Bartel (Cinderella's Prince), and Montana Iverson (Rapunzel's Prince) garner many laughs and execute all of the intended comedic moments with skill. The entire company is to be commended for their commitment to the piece.

Director and choreographer Chris Beiser provides a well-paced staging with many thoughtful, nuanced moments that capture the appropriate tone and message of the piece. The dances are fun and well-suited, and the entire production feels very cohesive. Music director Ryan Henrich has prepared his cast well vocally, and the tempos of the songs help to propel the action forward.

Gabe Davidson's sets are some of the most impressive seen at La Comedia, with attractive sliding pieces that help with scene transitions, and a large "woods" set which provides variety along with a nice nod to "time"–taking cues from the lyrics. The costumes by Emercita Erb and Mattison Williams are attractive and whimsical. Edward Huber's handsome lighting design includes several fitting effects.

Kudos to La Comedia Dinner Theatre for introducing new shows to their audiences this year. Into the Woods maybe be a bit more sophisticated and serious than the venue's typical fare, but audiences should welcome and embrace such shows, especially when presented in a first-class production featuring such talented performers as this one.

Into the Woods runs through May 4, 2025, at La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave, Springboro OH. For tickets and information, please call 937-746-4554 or visit lacomedia.com.