Sondheim Musical   

Takes Audience "Into the Woods"

By Dixie Walters

Fauquier Community Theatre's season winds down in May with "Into the Woods," the high-spirited, fairy-tale inspired Stephen Sondheim musical.

            The Tony Award-winning production brings together a familiar assortment of characters from the classic Grimm's Fairy Tales collection. Cinderella is present, along with Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, Prince Charming, Jack (of beanstalk fame), Sleeping Beauty and the Big Bad Wolf, among others you'll recognize. If these characters don't seem to belong together, that's what makes the fractured fairy tale so entertaining.

A Twist on the Formula

            The catalyst for the story is a Baker and his Wife who have been cursed with childlessness by a witch. In an effort to break her spell, they embark on a quest to find certain items. Their quest leads them "into the woods," where they interact in unexpected ways with the various fairy tale characters. But these are not the characters as you remember them. The helpless Little Red Ridinghood of childhood lore wields a knife, Jack has to face up to the consequences of his actions and Cinderella's Prince has a roving eye.

            "It's funny and serious," says the play's producer, Susan Noe. "It goes to emotional extremes, but there are lots of very funny moments.

Noe says the play has parallels with and should be appreciated by fans of other modern treatments of fairy tales, ranging from the recently released "Mirror Mirror" movie to "Tangled" and "The Princess Bride."

            Veteran director Martha Lynch, who most recently directed "Annie" at FCT, is experienced at steering musicals and has directed "Into the Woods" before at an outdoor venue. Not only is the story packed with award-winning songs - approximately 95 percent of the play is sung - but Lynch notes that, as with any good fairy tale, there are timeless themes and morals conveyed. The messages imparted run the gamut from "happily ever after" to "be careful what you wish for."

The play is moved along with full orchestration scaled for the space. "The music never really stops," Lynch says, describing that quality as a Sondheim trademark, & "there's no bad seat."

We lost a big part of FCT's history when lung cancer got the best of him Easter Sunday.  Tommy was especially active during the 1990s on the Board and on-stage, beginning with minor parts in The Music Man and Kiss Me Kate.  Then he advanced to the role of Phra Alack in The King and I, topped by an unforgettable portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird in 1991.  This was followed by playing the Mayor and the Senator in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Dr. Grimwig in FCT's first Oliver! and Pop Bailey in The 1940s Radio Hour.  In 1996 he sailed in Captains Courageous and helped inaugurate The Theatre in Vint Hill as ensemble member of Evita. Tommy took part in the Hospital Follies of '88 and '91 as a dancer (although he claimed he wasn't one), and in the round-the-world cruise of '97 he was the San Francisco customs officer, Haight-Ashbury style.  In spite of all this, Tommy was a banker by profession.

FCT can claim to be cupid's helper as he and Lee Walker worked on shows together and wed in 1993.  He continued to support her tireless work as Stage Manager, Board member, treasurer, FCT president and at the box office. People like this are what make Community Theater, ours in particular, what it is.     

Spotlight on Chantal Campbell  

No one lights up FCT's stage more than this accomplished actress and dancer.  Chantal  began performing at age 2 with her four siblings in Pennsylvania, and her experience shows!  Her FCT debut was in Evita in 1996, but we didn't see her again until 2003 when she danced into My Fair Lady as cockney Mrs. Hopkins and a very aristocratic Ascot attendee.  She followed that in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown winning a Lofty as his tormentor, Lucy (in the photo from FCT's brochure).  In 2006 she won another Lofty award as Nancy in Oliver!  Two years later she was Sister Robin Anne (the wild one) in Nunsense, and a year ago Chantal shone as Grace Farrell, Daddy Warbucks' secretary in Annie!

Chantal attended Pinecrest Bible Training Center.  Her performances other than with FCT included Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, Jane in Melody Hill, Rosalie in Carousel, and in 2005 she was director of an original revue, A to Z Broadway Style.  She and husband Mark live in Rixeyville with youngsters Austin, Ryan, Malayna (who, uncredited, shared the stage with her in Evita!) and Shane.  She and Mark own and run Renewable Energy Solutions in Warrenton, harnessing earth's energy and reducing their clients' carbon footprints.  Chantal's interests include worship, riding, hiking and piano. And, we're glad to say, theatre!

By Henry Baxley

Local hearing center brings HEARING ACCESSIBILITY technology to  

FAUQUIER COMMUNITY THEATER

Fauquier Hearing Services has donated a Hearing Induction Loop System and installation to the Fauquier Community Theater. The plan for the donation began when one of Dr. Markva's patients decided to stop frequenting the theater programs due to inability to hear and enjoy the theatrical production.  

Unsure as to whether you have t-coils in your hearing aid(s) or unsure of how to activate them? We recommend that you contact your audiologist, or the friendly staff at Fauquier Hearing Services will be glad to help you. Fauquier Hearing Services wants to be sure you can take advantage of the hearing loop at FCT - they can be reached at 540-341-7112 or 877-423-0035.  

Headset receivers are also available.

For more information, please contact -

Diane Markva, Doctor of Audiology

Fauquier Hearing Services/Listening Loop Technologies

493 Blackwell Rd., Suite 311

Warrenton, VA  20186

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