Into the Woods (which starts Friday at 8 p.m. at the Huntington City Hall auditorium) actually has co-directors - Mary and Tommy Smirl (as you might expect, they're married).
They graciously took time out of their busy tech week to take part in an e-interview:
Q: Why did you want to direct Into the Woods?
Mary: I love this Show! It pretty much has everything one could want to have when embarking on a creative journey with 40 talented kids. Amazing, "age old" characters to develop, period costumes, imaginative set potential, special effects, and let us not forget Mr. (Stephen) Sondheim’s music and lyrics! The kids always say, "Challenge us PLEASE," and this show fits the bill!
Q: What's the most challenging thing about staging this show?
Tommy: Two things come to mind. First, the music, I mean after all, it is Stephen Sondheim! However, we knew that the veteran kids we had to draw from could handle this kind of challenge. Ron Neal has been great in being both a teacher and a task master. He doesn’t just settle for being close, he wants them right on it. The new kids I think were surprised by how much we expected of them, but the ones that have grown up with First Stage not only rose to it, but I think expected it to be difficult and challenging. Now of course, I didn’t have to worry about the music as much because that was Ron’s job. For Mary and I, I think the most challenging part was relaying the movement and story in a limited space with limited set options. If you watch professional versions of this show, there are rotating stages, moving sets, elevators, flying things and all the magic that theatre can bring. Of course, we don’t have those options and we have to “create” the movement and change to try and convey the progression of the story. The living woods was one of the ways we sought to do that. It was kind of inspired by the hybrid car commercials that having the living flowers and such. We couldn’t go to that extreme, but we felt if the woods can move with the actors, it will relay a change of location to the audience without really going anywhere. The concept seemed easy enough at first, but I have to say, we did have our doubts along the way as to whether it was a good decision. However, the first night they were on the stage in costume, with the accompanying lighting, we just sat back and said, “Yeah, this is going to work!”
Q: The show is based on fairy tales, but it's not a "kiddie show" - has that been a challenge?
Mary: No, not where the cast is concerned. When you say, not a "kiddie show" as in...well, as I try to come up with even one "kiddie show" to compare, I find something that might eliminate pretty much all of them that are considered just that. Peter Pan has kidnapping Pirates that kill. Seussical has child abandonment. Wizard of Oz has death, even if it is of a Witch that is killed. I guess my point is, all "fairy tales" have lessons to be learned and never without questionable behavior exhibited and the consequences that follow. If you look hard enough you can find that in pretty much every story put to stage. We talked at length one of the first nights of reading through the show about this very question. I am always amazed but never surprised when they look for the good and never argue for the negative. It comes natural to them and I consider myself very lucky to be exposed to their perspective. When I asked them how they felt about the dark turn this story takes, they all were able to focus immediately on the cause for the destruction instead of the destructive act. In other words, as I think Cody Verbage said something like, "If you do not steal, lie, or break vows, you won’t end up getting crushed by a Giant." I think that perspective alone makes this a very good show for kids. As for any scenes that had questionable material, a good example being when Jack's Mom gets "killed," we handle it with humor, she gets bonked on the head, she dies standing up and then you see her walk across the stage later on with spoon in hand! We have as young as 6-year-olds in this show and one of the coolest things I have experienced is my own 9-year-old who plays a bird, now looks for the "morals", the lessons to be learned in pretty much everything she reads. She now has a keener perspective from being a part of this show. It has not been a challenge at all with this cast of intuitive, caring kids. The Witch tells us, "Careful The Tales you Tell, Children Will Listen." To that I say, "Hats off to the parents of this the kids in this show, they listened well!
Q: How is the cast handling the music - the show has a challenging score...
Mary: Oh My Goodness! I can’t begin to say enough about how they have met this challenge. I always say, "Argue for your limitations and they shall become yours." This group never argues for limits to be put in place, they demand to be challenged. They beg for material that limits others, or that others say will limit them just so they can overcome. I have never seen kids with such determination. Ron Neal has been amazing. His work ethic set the bar, his expectations set the tone and as usual, the kids put their heads down and tackled it and came out winning. They sat for the first two weeks in a typical classroom setting and studied the music. They spoke every song, they tapped out rhythms, they studied it like kids readying for the ACT or SAT. It was awesome to be able to watch them. I know those who come out to see and hear them will be amazed and moved. There are times the sound their harmonies put out causes a vibration in my chest and then takes my breath away. I would go as far as to say, you could sit through the entire show with eyes closed and enjoy, understand, and feel as though you have taken a journey Into The Woods. Imagine that and then add beautiful costumes, imaginative sets, and wonderfully rich characters... there's no reason to NOT come see this one!
Q: Why would you recommend community theatre as an activity for young people?
Tommy: I personally think team sports are an important part of a child’s development. They learn to trust others and the responsibility of others depending on you to do your part. Additionally, you learn you can’t quit, you must work hard to achieve a goal, and you learn there are others there to pick you up when you are not at your best. I grew up playing football, basketball and baseball and being a good teammate is a lesson I learned at an early age. However, not all kids are cut out for sports or have the desire to compete. Community theatre is as much a team sport as any actual team I was ever on. All of those same elements described above are present, when a kid makes the commitment to be a part of a cast. I think theatre is one more valuable outlet for children to be a part of something positive and to learn that the sum total of the effort can far exceed the individuals involved. I think this show really demonstrates that. It is already an ensemble cast, but with the addition of the living woods, you will see real teamwork in the execution of the production.
Q: Why would you recommend this show to our readers?
Tommy: First of all, it is very entertaining. We have some of the most talented kids in the Tri-State area in this show. The music is phenomenal, there are many very funny parts that will keep you on your toes and the story is familiar. Who doesn’t know about Little Red Riding Hood or Jack and the Beanstalk? But, can you imagine taking those tales as well as three or four more and rolling them all together in to one big story that ties them together at their roots. Don’t be fooled though by the fairy tale background, while children would be amused by the characters and music and dancing, this is also a show for grownups. The story emphasizes several life lessons, such as, “Be careful what you wish for,” and “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Several songs will touch your heart if you are a mother or father. My personal favorites are “Children Will Listen” and “No More.” Having three daughters, those songs get me every time I hear them. For just being Middle and High School kids, I think these amazing young people really capture the lightness of the first Act and the contrasting heaviness of the second Act. I have truly been honored to witness their growth and understanding of their characters as this show progressed.
Q: Tell us when and where the show will be staged.
Tommy: It is at City Hall on Nov. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22. Friday and Saturday night shows are at 8 p.m. and the two Sunday performances are at 4 p.m.
Thanks, Mary and Tommy!
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