Reviews
"Whether comically enraged or tragically mournful, York is always a pleasure both to listen to and to watch.
...Speaking of Cinderella, McCaela Donovan makes an absolutely gorgeous scullery maid — and an even more gorgeous princess, with a gorgeous voice to match. ...But some of that layering is due to Donovan’s marvelous performance. Her singing of 'No One Is Alone,' in particular, brings out all the richness of Sondheim’s lyrics and the song’s pure melodic line.
...In the central role of the Baker, Doug Jabara is affecting and strong. His singing is imbued with a deep sense of character, and his solid acting technique keeps us riveted to the story...
...it has a strong visual concept, a terrific live orchestra, and more than enough vivid performances to let the brilliance of Into the Woods shine through. All in all, it’s a fine start for this new-old company, the Reagle Music Theatre." - Louise Kennedy, The Boston Globe
"Reagle has finally gone out on a limb, and that can only spell good things for the summer theater scene.
...Reagle’s production is tautly directed by Stacey Stephens and musical director Charles Peltz, with a virtuosic performance from York at its center. ...As a honey-voiced but forthright Cinderella, McCaela Donovan shows signs of being the next great ingenue in town. Gregory Isaac Stone is an ideal Jack, powering through tenor staple 'Giants in the Sky.'"
- Jenna Scherer, The Boston Herald
"...As is so often the case in a Reagle production, the balance of the company is a talented mix of veteran performers, college students, and recent graduates who interpret Sondheim's music and lyrics with skill and depth of feeling.
... the Witch is a pivotal role and York manages at once to play her as funny and evil, as well as sexy, commanding, and vulnerable after the character's transformation. ... York brings her 'A' game and raises the bar for the rest of the cast. Wahle sets an amiable tone, rather like our tour guide, as he ambles around the stage narrating the goings-on with a twinkle in his eye. Jabara and Jones both sing beautifully and have great chemistry together. Individually, they convincingly show the changes in the baker and his wife as they traverse their story arcs.
Equally impressive are McCaela Donovan (Cinderella) and Gregory Isaac Stone (Jack), two young actors making their Reagle debuts. Her voice is clear as crystal, his rich and strong, and both exude innocence and optimism. ...Stone captures Jack's excitable, joyous qualities as well as his dim nature, and Donovan simply captivates. Allison Russell's Little Red Riding Hood starts out as a child with a bravado born of naiveté, but quickly gets wise to the ways of the woods and the Wolf. As her lupine stalker, Miodovnik oozes creepiness and makes the most of his song "Hello, Little Girl" when they meet. Reappearing as a wolf in Prince's clothing, Miodovnik struts and swaggers affectingly, letting us know that the royal character is quite impressed with himself.
Music Director Charles Peltz conducts a full pit orchestra and has the good fortune to work with an ensemble composed entirely of actors who can sing and make it look easy. ...David Wilson's lighting effectively makes the woods seem scary and perilous, and simultaneously showcases the dark shadows on the evil Witch's craggy face and the beautiful goodness of the girl in the ashes.
...Into the Woods is an ambitious undertaking by any measure, but the risk pays off with a big reward for Reagle Music Theatre. "
- Nancy Grossman, Broadwayworld.com
" They head up an impressive cast, who manage Sondheim's fractured fairytale plot and diabolically difficult score with aplomb. And they can sing too. The whole thing blew me away--the sets, costumes, staging, LIVE ORCHESTRA ladies and gentlemen, LIVE ORCHESTRA ...
... REAGLE'S INTO THE WOODS will leave you deeply satisfied and happy ever after...! " - Joyce Kulhawik, Spontaneous Acts Of Joyce
"...the Reagle cast, featuring Rachel York and Scott Wahle, with Stacey Stephens at the helm, have created a lovely production of this admittedly difficult material. "
- David Brooks Andrews, Daily News
"... Reagle has landed in the landscape of a typical SpeakEasy, Lyric, or New Rep musical.
...What's memorable about the Reagle version, however, is how it subtly grows in scale and power as it proceeds: by the finale, largely thanks to McCaela Donovan's delicately devastating version of 'No One is Alone,' I confess my heart was in my throat - right where Sondheim and Lapine intended it to be.
Chief among these many lights was Rachel York, a Broadway vet (and Reagle regular) without a real peer in Boston in terms of musical theatre ability. ... her Witch is both hilariously broad and yet - amazingly - deeply touching; her rendition of 'Stay with Me' was the most wrenching I've ever heard, in fact. Damn, this gal has chops.
I'd say the other theatres in town should watch their backs; as I predicted last summer, Reagle seems to see an opening for a jump from a 'merely' community-based theatre into a full-fledged regional presence, and with Into the Woods, they're putting their best foot forward. " - Thomas Garvey, The Hub Review