Choir students take on a challenge

MONTROSE  —  Viewers will see many fairly tale characters in the Montrose High School Choir Departments’ performance of “Into the Woods,” but there is nothing childish about the students’ acting and vocal talent in this challenging musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.

“They begged to do it,” said Cheryl Leu, co-director for the musical and MHS choir director.

“Into the Woods” is a favorite of many musical students with its “dark comedy,” poignant moral messages and extreme display of vocals. It’s challenging music is by Sondheim, while the book and stage production is by Lapine. Leu decided this year was the year.

“We put out not a rinky-dink, small-time performance ... what we’ve pulled off is quite amazing,” longtime MHS/Magic Circle liaison Kat Govan said.

Being careful to put the strongest singers into roles that required the vocals, and also not mismatching the expected “look” of the characters, Leu and Govan cast a notable show.

Many of the faces are recognizable from other MHS and Magic Circle Theatre productions.

In the first act of Sondheim’s story, fairly tale characters set out to live the fairy tale dream of happily ever after.

Cinderella, played by Erin Deskin, goes to the ball where she finds her prince, played by JD Jacob.

Deskin demonstrated why she received fourth place in the All-State choir competition during this production.

Jacob has played parts in various Magic Circle musical productions over the last seven years, and his experience shows.

“This is the hardest musical I’ve tackled,” he said. He said it’s rhythmically orientated and there are many key changes. He is also the production coordinator.

Other fairy tale characters fall into their roles in the story, which is narrated by Travis Mulkey.

Jack, played by John David Gann, climbs the beanstalk to find riches, which he brings back to his mother, played by Staycee Morales.

Little Red Ridding Hood, played by Emily Capshaw, survives a wolf encounter at grandma’s house. Rapunzel, played by Darby Jones, escapes her tower.

“Each individual fairy tale is played out,” Govan said.

The baker, Chance Jacob, and his wife, Jessica Dunham, are also introduced. Through a bad neighboring conflict with the baker’s dad and the witch, played by Lauren “Sam” Mitchell, a curse has been placed and the baker is unable to have a child.

To break this curse, he must collect four items, each dealing with the four different fairy tales introduced.

From there, characters intertwine and the end of act one sees one death.

More death comes in act two, when the poignant messages about good, bad and their consequences take toll.

There is no death in the characters’ voices though. In the second act, Rapunzel’s prince, played by Alan Holley, and JD Jacob put on a slightly comical vocal performance about women called “Agony (Reprise).”

Then when destruction from Jack’s giant hits the characters homes and families, Deskin, Gann, Capshaw, Mitchell and Chance Jacob battle over who’s to blame with a challenging, but well done song called “Your Fault.”

Then Mitchell trails with “Last Midnight.” She said it’s the intertwining of the characters, and the complex and close harmonies that make “Into the Woods” such a wonderful production.

Leu said the performance will be nothing less than what viewers would expect from a Magic Circle production.

Tickets are currently on sale at MHS front desk for $8 for adults and $5 for students; $3 with an MHS activity card. Performances, held at the Magic Circle Theatre, start Wednesday, Dec. 5 and run through Saturday, Dec. 8. Curtains open at 7 p.m. sharp.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com