Review: Into the Woods, Noël Coward Theatre

As parents we take our kids to the panto, read them fairy tales, and sing nursery rhymes,  believing them to be wholesome and educational. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical Into the Woods turns that assumption upside down. Instead of the usual happy ever after, this show reveals the cruelty, violence, and sexual exploitation that lurks beneath the surface of human desires and behaviour.

First performed in 1986, Into the Woods has just transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre following a sell-out run at the Bridge Theatre. Whilst the show deals with serious issues such as narcissistic parents and generational trauma, it is also hugely entertaining.

First on stage is a shuffling older gentleman with a beard and tweed jacket, who looks rather like the late Stephen Sondheim himself. This narrator begins with a “once upon a time”, and introduces us to the fairy tale characters who are all dissatisfied with their lives. 

A baker and his wife are desperate for a child and are told by a witch that if they gather certain items their infertility will be cured. They set off into the woods and encounter Little Red Riding Hood pursued by an incredibly sleazy wolf, Cinderella on her way to the prince’s festival, Jack and his beloved cow Milky White, and the wailing Rapunzel, desperate to escape her mother’s clutches. The fantasy mash-up ends on a positive note, with wishes seemingly fulfilled. 

But of course, no-one is truly out of the woods. In pursuing their own individual goals everyone has been so narrow minded and selfish they must get their comeuppance. And so the second half takes a much darker turn. These fairy tales are much closer to the originals, which reveal just how brutal humans can be.

The opening set, designed by Tom Scutt, locates the action in a modest bakery. However, a few minutes in, the woods are dramatically revealed, to audible gasps of amazement from the audience. It is like walking into a beautifully illustrated picture book. Aideen Malone’s clever lighting places beams of sunlight in between the trees, creating nooks where characters plan their next moves. Other details are added as the story unfolds, such as Grandma’s cottage and Rapunzel’s tower. 

Picking standout cast members is difficult amongst so many faultless performances. Gracie McGonigal is a feisty Red Riding Hood with a temperament of Veruca Salt. Simbi Akande is a powerful Cinderella and Keith Ramsey is a sensitive Jack, whose super-cute chemistry with his precious Milky White is created with some masterful puppetry. Scutt’s costumes and Sam Cox’s wigs add another level of magic.

Sondheim musicals can be an acquired taste due to their dissonant melodies and fast-paced lyrics. In Into the Woods, songs highlight tension and mixed emotions rather than churn out feel-good conclusions. There are some serious showstoppers. In ‘Agony’ two princes catastrophise their everyday first-world problems. The melodramatic delivery from Lucas Loch and Matthew Seadon-Young is one of the show’s highlights. When Kate Fleetwood, as the wicked witch, sings ‘Last Midnight’, it fizzes with foreboding and anger, and she navigates the complex piece with the kind of skill that makes it look and sound easy. The title song, a repetitive, upbeat, yet sinister childlike march will likely lodge in your brain for several days. 

Into the Woods will appeal to anyone seeking entertainment with a twist. For those with an interest in the psychological origins of fairy tales and who are familiar with the panto genre, the show will be especially interesting. For those without, the spectacular visuals, arresting melodies, and clever lyrics make this an exciting night out.

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by Jordan Fein
Produced by Jamie Wilson
Set and Costume Design by Tom Scutt
Musical Supervisor: Mark Aspinall
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Sound Design by Adam Fisher
Lighting Design by Aideen Malone
Video Design by Roland Horvath
Movement Director: Jenny Ogilvie
Wigs, Hair & Make-Up Design by Sam Cox
Puppetry Design by Cheryl ‘Chuck’ Brown, Max Humphries & Tom Scutt
Musical Director: Alex Beetschen

Into the Woods plays at the Noël Coward Theatre until Saturday 9 January 2027