Character Analysis: Into The Woods

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Filled with thought-provoking and convincing performances by the actors, appropriately paced directing, rich and immersive scenery, effective lighting, and intricate costumes, Cal State Fullerton’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, guides the audience through the woods without ever leaving anybody stranded there, confirming that “No One is Alone.”
Kicking off with an impactful first impression, the actors were very believable when it comes to developing their animated fairy tale characters and attributing human qualities to them. By portraying these imperfect qualities found in the characters, the actors’ performances were able to successfully communicate Sondheim’s message of being responsible for one’s actions. Even though …show more content…
What made these performances stood out was the authenticity that seems to play through their verbal and nonverbal communication that came across as reaching out to the audience on a more personal and emotional level that is also enhanced by their musical delivery. Because of their emotional connection, the audience can’t help but feel engaged to Pierson’s and Parker’s performance as much as the actors were in their respective role. Pierson’s sincere and hyperactive movements, facial expressions and verbal performance was a blend of naiveté and boldness that helped make his character’s transition a smooth one and provided the lesson of learning to accept one’s mistakes and actions through responsibility and bravery. Parker’s performance as the Witch is enthralling to witness; her comical timing was very precise and her vocal variation and raw emotions stir feelings of sympathy for the character. Her hand movements and gestures, such as point and grasping, and various facial expression were very graceful and demanding at the same time. Parker’s presence brings wit and humor to the performance …show more content…
The majority of the time, the characters are in the woods, where the environment is both comforting during circumstances where there are other characters involved and eerie at the same time, provoking challenging and difficult situations, when the characters believes that they are alone. Even though the production was set in a stylized setting, Mauri Anne Smith and Ashley Strain, the scenic designer, does a wonderful job of keeping the wonder and majestic scenery as realistic as possible to not alienate the audience too much. The costume design, by Michelle Kincaid, does provide clues to the characters’ personalities, such as bright red color of the witch’s dress symbolizing the her intensity and power and going through a physical as well emotional transformation in an exquisite blue dress that blends with the mysterious blue lighting of the woods. Most of Act I, consisted of bright lighting, while Act II lurks through the darker tone of the story through dark blue lighting that only brightens up when the characters have discovered hope and learned their responsibility of helping one another. All the choices that were made concerning
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