Into the Woods

Every year my church's music ministry does a summer musical production one weekend in August. We call it "Bach to Broadway." It started in our Fellowship Hall (long before my time) on a small stage and subsequently moved to the Activities Building on our campus with a larger stage, props, and the whole package. A relative newcomer (this is just my sixth year at South Main Baptist Church in Houston, Texas), I have not seen many, but the ones I have experienced have been top-notch productions, including Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly, and The Sound of Music. This year's offering, the 20th, Into the Woods, is no exception. In this work, Stephen Sondheim weaves a tapestry of fairy tales -- Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel, sprinkles in some notable mentions (Snow White and Sleeping Beauty), and uses that foundation for the story of a baker and his wife who want to start a family. And, of course, there is a witch. There's always a witch.

What is so blessedly amazing is how easily one can be caught up in the moment of this artistic work, and the spirit of authenticity the cast of 31 brings to the stage. Yes, Into the Woods is about fairy tales. The Woods, for this writer, symbolized a place of refuge, assistance, turmoil and transformation. It seems that when one goes into the woods, one emerges as not quite the same person as before. And there are lessons to be learned from Into the Woods. What makes it possible to hear and see those messages is not being distracted by self-centered, indifferent or negative spirits. The members of the cast, even those who never uttered a word, gave themselves over to their characters, and brought me into their story. I felt the dismay of the baker and his wife who wanted a child. I saw the ends to which the baker's wife would go to get what they needed to break the witch's spell. (Not unlike the way we excuse unethical, immoral and treacherous behavior -- you know -- the end justifies the means. Not!) I saw the straying eyes of the two princes as they forsook their respective wives in search of something/someone different. Now, that's really hitting home, don't you think? I saw a crowd willing to sacrifice the life of another -- in order to save their on skin.

Being a fan of performing arts (especially opera) for decades, I am most appreciative of live performances. While the seating in Jones Hall and the Wortham Theater Center in Houston may be cushier and more comfortable, I cannot say that the performances are any better. (And the refreshments at intermission cannot hold a candle to our cookies, cupcakes, fresh fruit and punches, whether from the perspective of price and quality [free and fresh at SMBC].)

How dare I compare my church's musical offerings to that of professional performances? Like this: They may build bigger sets, but that's about it.