Reviews

First appearing on Broadway in the 1980’s, Into the Woods follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wished to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. The would-be parents learn that their trouble is due to a witch’s curse, which they set off to break. They succeed but then suffer the consequences. This contrast between the hopes and dreams of Act 1, and the happenings of Act 2 was brought to the audience through good singing and some very good acting.

The once-married couple haven’t seen each other for thirty years, until they meet in Athens, both old and mellowed. They discuss the past, offering differing interpretations on events that shaped their lives many years before.

The Greek mythology of this couple is more than 2,500 years old – Euripides’ play was first performed in 431BC – and there have been scores of interpretations and translations since. Loucas Loizou’s story is a kind of sequel: a retrospective of the events, softened a little by time.

When they said it was an immersive theatrical experience, they were not making it up. Just minutes after stepping into the century old terrace in Sydney’s Kings Cross you are part of the action.

The intimate audience of forty lean at a bar, squeeze up and down stairs, sit on leather lounges, and are ushered into different rooms, never sure where the action will take place.

Otello is a Venetian general and the governor of Cyprus. Iago is his ensign. They have just returned to Cyprus in a violent storm after a victory against the Turks. The city is celebrating, but not everyone is happy! Otello has overlooked Iago by appointing another officer, Cassio, as Captain of the Navy. And Iago is angry! He is a malicious man and plots revenge against them both. The outcome is a cruel scenario based on deceit, manipulation, jealousy … and gullibility.