On April 15, 16 and 17, director Karen Cooke and her prolific and talented Topanga Youth Services group presented Into the Woods, Jr.—a stunning showcase of characters we all know from fairy tales, but whose lives intersect in totally new ways. 

Based on the book by James Lapine and in true Stephen Sondheim fashion the play is a multi-layered dark, funny, thrilling romp that revolves around what happens when the characters really should be careful what they wish for.

Woeful Cinderella (Chloe Chapman) wishes to go to the King’s Festival. Hapless Jack (Caleb Briskman) wishes his cow, Milky-White, would give him milk. 
His mother (Charlotte Constantine) wishes for gold and a less foolish son. 

The Baker (Xavier Cornell) and his Wife (Skye Smith) wish for a child and in the midst of their sorrow, a slightly ditzy Little Red Ridinghood (Lola Stockard) on the way to visit her sick Granny shows up at their store to buy sweets. And the sad, golden-haired Rapunzel (Mila Chapman) is still locked in her tower. Through it all is a Witch (Gabbi Beauvais) who enjoys causing chaos.

Think you know how it all plays out? Think again. Like a snow globe you turn upside down and shake, none of the antics turn out to be what you expect. There were backstories and outcomes that the Brothers Grimm couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams.

With a stellar cast, talented technical crew and a team of hardworking parents, this production did not disappoint and is most certainly one of the most difficult, but successful projects of Topanga Youth Services to date.