Into the Woods

Into the Woods, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 2010.

Cast: Ethan Beer, Eddie Manning, Joshua Swinney, Helen Dallimore, Ben Stott, Mark Hadfield, Jenna Russell, Gaye Brown, Amy Ellen Richardson, Amy Griffiths, Marilyn Cutts, Beverly Rudd, Hannah Waddingham, Gemma Wardle, Billy Boyle, Michael Xavier, Valda Aviks, Alice Fearn, Simon Thomas, Mark Goldthorp, Sophie Caton, Marc Antolin, Judi Dench (as the voice of the giant).

Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Book: James Lapine

Director: Timothy Sheader

My first visit to the Open Air Theatre, and it would take me thirteen years to get back. I went to a matinee because I couldn't work out if it would be possible to get home after an evening performance and if I'd been worried about the daylight somehow spoiling the show I was wrong. The backdrop of trees was perfect for this production and I think that's why it took me so long to go back - nothing could ever work as well.

It was my second time seeing Into the Woods and I'm overdue another viewing. It's interesting to see Hannah Waddingham in the programme, looking far less imperial than she does now.