By Megan FriedmanPLAY Writer
“Once upon a time,” announces an omnipresent narrator, played by Communication sophomore Eric Wilson.
So opens each act of Into the Woods, Northwestern’s 65th annual Dolphin Show, premiering Friday in Cahn Auditorium.
This iconic phrase personifies the Stephen Sondheim musical, which chronicles classic fairy tales that link to each other as the plot progresses.
Originally an aquatic performance serving as a fundraiser for the swim team, Dolphin Show has since migrated from the pool to the stage and has become the nation’s largest student-produced musical – and an NU tradition, with more than 100 students participating each year.
But even though Dolphin Show has been around for a while, don’t expect this year’s production to be standard fare.
“A lot of other shows sort of pop up every couple of years, like Gypsy, but this is the first time Into the Woods has ever been a Dolphin Show,” says artistic producer Dave Leuchter, who is a McCormick senior.
The plot and setting have also undergone a thorough reimagining. Normally set in a magical forest, this show centers around four youngsters who begin to play make-believe in an expansive attic, which becomes the setting for the remainder of the play.
When they start playing, the girls become Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, and the boys become Jack of beanstalk fame and the Baker. Supporting characters literally come out of the woodwork and are seemingly summoned by the children’s imaginations.
The framing story that appears in the first act is that of the Baker and his wife. The couple is unable to bear children, because a witch has placed a curse on the Baker’s family.
In order to reverse the spell, they must make a potion from four mysterious items found in the woods – four items which happen to belong to Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and Little Red. While the couple do their best to find these items, they meet up with other characters, who in turn meet up with each other, putting a new spin on the fairy tales we all know and love.
The four other storylines carry out in their usual styles, up until the traditional “happily ever after” at the end of the first act.
When the curtain rises on the second act, however, things begin to change. Once the famous storyline is complete, the rest of the play focuses on the repercussions of having one’s wish fulfilled and the characters’ collective need to recognize their own selfishness.
This year’s Dolphin Show certainly does not disappoint. With a stellar ensemble cast and an inventive reimagining of the set, Into the Woods transports audiences back into the innocence of their youths.
Director Travis Greisler echoes this sentiment.
“The attic is about to come to life and transport you to that place you remember as a kid, those fairy tales and make-believe and magic,” the Communication senior says. “That’s the whole idea of the show – the idea of dressing up and trying on adult roles.”
Into the Woods runs Jan. 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
Medill freshman Megan Friedman is a PLAY writer. She can be reached at [email protected].
