​Kincardine Theatre Guild’s “Into the Woods” is a musical comedy with a dark, sombre side

If you like your fairy tales with more Tim Burton than Disney, you’re going to love the Kincardine Theatre Guild’s production of “Into the Woods,” which opened Thursday night at the Kincardine Arts Centre.

A musical comedy, it has a dark, sombre side, featuring the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack and the Beanstalk, along with the central characters, the Baker and his wife, in a magical tale about wishes, consequences and what happens after “happily ever after.”

This production has all the elements of a magnificent show, with a brilliant cast, tremendous live music, and a fabulous set, lighting and sound.

The stand-out in the cast, is Megan Gramigna as the Witch, bringing high-level energy to the stage as the hideous creature who is later transformed back to her original self.

Also stellar in their roles, are Rob and Jenn Peters as the Baker and his wife, Emily Cassidy as Little Red Riding Hood, Fawn Robinson as Cinderella, Benjamin Hearn as Cinderella’s Prince, Nicole Reid as Rapunzel, Dan McGibney as Rapunzel’s Prince, Greg Nyenhuis as Jack, Debbie Deckert as Jack’s mother, Joy King as Granny and the Giant, John Low as the Mysterious Man, and Jared Petrie as The Wolf.

Joining them on stage, are Casey Martin as the Narrator, Jason Geberdt as The Steward, Amy Gowan as Cinderella’s step-mother, Isabella Geberdt and Sam Kim as Cinderella’s step-sisters, Peter Eboigbe as Cinderella’s father, River Hunter as Cinderella’s mother and Sleeping Beauty, Kendra Newton as Milky White, Lily Martin as Stick Pig and Snow White, Milo Petrie as Brick Pig, and Jameson May as Wolf No. 2.

There is so much to love about this show: the fast-paced action as various characters run in and out of the woods, leaping to great heights, and dropping to deep lows; and the comedic bits, such as “the ends justify the beans,” and Cinderella’s Prince stating, “I was raised to be charming, not sincere.”

While the Witch is the villain, you actually start feeling sorry for her as she was so terribly wronged by the Baker’s father.

By the end of the first act, all the wrongs have been made right and everyone lives happily ever after. Or do they?

In essence, this is a cautionary tale: be careful what you wish for as it could bring sadness and loss.

So, does everyone live happily ever after, and which characters don’t make it to the end of the show?

To find out, you’ll have to buy a ticket and go.

Praise to director Alison Moran and music director Liz Coates and the band for staging such a terrific show.

“Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by James Lapine, continues Nov. 27-28, and Dec. 4-5 at 7 p.m., with matinees Nov. 29 and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $30 each; available at the Victoria Park Gallery (cash only) during business hours, or on-line at tproontario.ticketpro.ca (ticket price, plus taxes and fees).

Be mindful, the play is lengthy, running almost three hours, with one 15-minute intermission.