OPEN DOOR Theatre School produced a classy, professional, pitch perfect and superbly acted performance of Into The Woods at the Thameside Theatre on thursday night.
Readers will know that YourThurrock doesn’t hand out positive critical reviews like confetti but we were bowled over by the level of performance delivered by Open Door that was head and shoulders above anything else delivered in the borough.
The whole performance was a masterclass in basics: Entrance, know your lines, delivery, intonation, style, timing. The list goes on. It was also very very enjoyable.
Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim’s 1976 book, The Uses of Enchantment, the musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them further to explore the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests.
The main characters are taken from the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, tied together by a more original story involving a baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, most likely taken from the original story of Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm. It also includes references to several other well-known tales.
The humour was very similar to the tone of the 1987 film, The Princess Bride. The actors and actresses delivered it with style and great humour.
The sets were understated but very effective. The acting was excellent.
It appeared that the producers and staff at the theatre school had set a high standard for the students. They haven’t patronised with “that will do” They have said: If you want to progress to our productions at the Edinburgh Festival then this is the standard you will achieve. Sure enough, four of the actors will be going up to Edinburgh next month.
Amongst the audience was Ockendon Councillor Lyn Carr. She said: “It was a superb production. So professional and so entertaining. I loved the sets and I loved the singing.”
Well done to you all. We look forward to the next production.
