The Menier Chocolate Factory's mission is usually to colonise as much of the West
End and Broadway with its own shows as possible, so importing a show from the US is
an unusual move for them, especially when it's an actor-musician production, a style
that's been popular with, and successful for, various homegrown companies in recent
years. Directors Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld (who both also appear in the cast)
have chosen one of Stephen Sondheim's most popular works though, and one with a high
profile after being made into a recent film.
Into The Woods throws together
Cinderella (Claire Karpen) and her Prince (Brody,) Rapunzel (Emily Young) and
her Prince (Andy Grotelueschen,) the beanstalk-climbing, giant-killing Jack
(Patrick Mulryan) and a bloodthirsty Little Red Riding Hood (Young,) all their
stories taking place as a result of a Baker (Steinfeld) and his Wife (Jessie
Austrian) desperately wanting a child, and needing to lift the curse that's keeping
them childless.
