Composer/lyricist: Stephen Sondheim. Playwright: James Lapine. At: The Hypocrites and Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: 773-325-1700 or www.mercurytheaterchicago.com; $22-$59. Runs through: March 30
The Hypocrites' new Mercury Theater production of Into the Woods, the classic 1987 Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical that mixes up many Grimm Brothers fairytales together, is definitely not a literal storybook production. To some traditionalists that might be a drawback, but The Hypocrites' playtime approach is one that skillfully prods audiences to jog their imaginations to a time as tots when they might also have staged their own fairytale productions.
Director Geoff Button resets the musical in a children's preschool filled with lit-up vintage toys, tiny chairs and sippy cups. And to illustrate those menacing woods, set designer William Boles has created rows of balloon bungee cords that get tied and rearranged throughout the show ( although perhaps a bit too much since the fine music director Matt Deitchman has to repeatedly vamp some transition passages ).
Playing all the characters is a cast of kindly adult minders who almost all take on multiple roles. ( Note how costumer Sally Dolembo cleverly dresses Blake Montgomery's Narrator just like the late Mr. Rogers from PBS. ) Not only does this decision economically help keep the number of cast members down, but it ties into the late Paul Sills' Story Theater improv games that emphasize how a change of hat, scarf or cloak can easily help the audience differentiate between multiple characters.
Yet with the cast talking on so many roles, it sometimes creates awkward moments in big group scenes as actors have to switch characters in seconds. Perhaps if these transitions were more deftly handled and distinct, it would all come off more magically.
It also becomes clear that some actors are better suited to some roles than others. For instance, Kate Harris is certainly imperious enough as Cinderella's stepmother, although she's abysmal at getting laughs as Jack's mother. And you almost begrudge Hillary Marren for not creating something more menacing than her baby-voiced performance as the witch since she's so busy doubling up as other characters.
Yet, The Hypocrites' Into the Woods does contain a lot of strong performances. Joel Ewing and Allison Hendrix are very moving as the questing Baker and his Wife, while Will Skirp and Michael Brown win laughs as the pining Princes singing "Agony." Aubry McGrath as Jack and Sarah Bocket as Cinderella/Rapunzel both have the loveliest voices, while the teenage sarcasm of Hannah Dawe as Little Red Riding-hood is fun.
Sondheim and Lapine's revisionist take on Grimm tales still stands strong and shows how durable it is to different interpretations. Although Button's conceptualized take on Into the Woods isn't perfect production-wise, it still is greatly rewarding emotionally and in terms of imaginative theatricality.