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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 8, 2014)
T H E AT E R BY RICK LEVIN Taking Care of Your Four-Legged Family for Over 30 Years Introducing Laser Therapy Class IV Therapeutic Laser INDIA POTTER (LEFT), BETH MILTON, BRYANA SMITH AS CINDERELLA’S STEPSISTERS AND STEPMOTHER AND ALEXIS MYLES (SEATED) AS CINDERELLA Drug Free, Surgery Free relief for your pet Call us for more details INTO THE WILD Cameron Jones, DVM Barbara Maki, DVM Cary Heyward, DVM ACE vet Mark VanBeever goes happily never after with Into the Woods strange species of magical realism pervades Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a darkly funny musical that mashes up a handful of our most familiar fairy tales into a salty stew of deviant psychology and romantic dissatisfaction. Keeping the outward trappings of the fables intact, Sondheim douses them with the realpolitik of reality. Hence, Cinderella finds her Prince only so-so, Little Red Riding Hood is a snarky brat and Rapunzel, left alone too long in her tower, is a neurotic mess. The musical deconstructs the Disneyfication of Grimm, putting the lie to decades of sugar-spun wish fulfillment. There is no better company in town to mount this Sondheim classic than Actors Cabaret of Eugene, and no better director to tackle it than ACE veteran Mark VanBeever, who makes this production his swan song after 15 years with the theater. It’s a glorious farewell. From the smoothly choreographed set pieces to the aces-up casting to the rousing musical numbers, Into the Woods bears VanBeever’s stamp all over it — a distinct combination of smarts, humor, technical savvy and that aura of joy which reveals an unflagging love for musical theater. Sondheim, with his intricate compositions, presents an uncommon challenge for any director, and VanBeever is not only up to it; he owns it, with a confidence and enthusiasm that spreads into every nook and cranny of the production. Enthusiasm itself casts a sort of spell, and VanBeever’s gusto seems to enchant the show’s entire cast, which plays things just right — never too serious, never too silly. Alexis Myles, previously seen as Ti Moune in ACE’s Once On This Island, is damn near perfect as Cinderella, all street smarts and thwarted hopes. Emily Westlund is a hoot as Riding Hood, transforming this traditional innocent into an entitled teen full of defiant sass. Traci Knights is grand as the Witch, and Zach Ropp and Tony Coslett create great comic chemistry as the princes, a pair of brotherly gallants driven by the insatiable need to pursue every fair maiden. Also good are Tera Ponce (Rapunzel), Cody Mendonca and Melissa Miller (Jack and his mom), Gene Chin and Cindy Kenny (Baker and his wife), as well as Beth Milton, Will Vanderbilt, India Potter and Bryana Smith as Cinderella’s adoptive family. There seems no better tribute to VanBeever and his tenure at ACE than filling the seats for this lovely production of Into the Woods. It’s the least we can do for this fine artist in our midst. A Appointments Available 8am-6pm Weekdays 9am-4pm Saturday info@amazonparkvet.com • 541-485-0161 • 725 E. 25th Ave. Eugene “Dangerous and provocative, but pulverizingly funny to boot" —Variety “Strong, ferociously smart play" —NY Times Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris Pulitzer Prize & Tony Award Winning Comedy Directed by Craig Willis May 9 - June 1 Now in our new theatre! 194 West Broadway Tickets: 541-465-1506 or octheatre.org Into the Woods runs through May 31 at Actors Cabaret of Eugene; $16-$42.95. Visit actorscabaret.org/tickets for tickets. T H E Thanks to our sponsors: PROM JOANNE BROH Band w/Deb Cleveland and Gus Russell Jivin’ Johnny from KRVM Fun contests: Limbo | Costume | Dance Photo Booth | Silent Auction | Over 21 only - Vet’s Club Ballroom A Benefit for KindTree-Autism Rocks Summer Camps start July 7! Shakespeare Camp, July 7 - 19 (Grades 7-12) Fractured Fairytales, July 21 - Aug. 2 (Grades 3 - 6) Register at www.octheatre.org or call (541) 684.6988 eugeneweekly.com • March 8, 2014 41
