Not all fairytales end with 'happily ever after.'
Steven Sondheim's famous musical 'Into The Woods' continues the story of everyone's favourite fairytales and brings them all together in a wickedly inventive and dark way. Plot points interweave and the ending is just the beginning in this wickedly funny subversion of the heroes that you know and love. Cinderella, her Prince, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf, Rapunzel, and Jack (of the beanstalk) return to tell the story that you never heard as a kid.
Little Red Riding Hood (Kimberley Hodgson) happened to be walking through the dark, scary forest that is scenestr, so we stopped her to ask a couple of questions.First thing's first, Little Red, I'd just like to ask if you've ever heard the concept of 'stranger danger'?
Yes, yes, yes! Don't talk to strangers blah, blah, blah otherwise they'll dress up in your Grandmother's clothes and eat you. I've learnt my lesson.
Do you wear the little red riding hood because of your name, or is it the other way around?
Well, I don't wear a little red riding hood because my name is Sally... Of course I wear my little red riding hood because of my name.
Did you not notice that your Grandma smelled less like moth balls and more like wet dog?
At the time I didn't, no. In fact, my Grandmother sports a variety of scents and smells and it varies each time I visit her. It's a delightful surprise, really. Sometimes she smells like moth balls and other times... oh I don't think my mother would want me to say that. Let's just say, I have to make sure Granny doesn't drink all of her wine that I deliver in the one sitting, because the smell the next morning isn't as welcoming as the smell of moth balls.
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And was she always that hairy?
Yes, that is, if I let it grow out... I forgot to pluck her facial hair the Sunday before, don't tell my mother.
Have you been tricked by many other animals in your life?
No, I'm not stupid. If you knew what my grandmother actually looked like, you wouldn't be so surprised.
Do you think 'happily ever after' is just a myth?
One can only hope to have a 'happily ever after'. I don't really mind, just as long as there's some delicious baked goods involved.
How're you holding up after everything that happened? Is there a local village therapist to talk to?
They haven't published that story yet, I don't want to breach any copyright agreements.
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How do you think Kimberley would have fared against the big bad wolf?
I don't know, she seems pretty hopeless. Maybe prance around a little bit or sing a little song for him or... I don't know, maybe she'd play dead?
Who can rock a red riding hood better, you or her?
Don't be ridiculous, she would look hideous in red.
Do you think that Kimberley would like to have a 'once upon a time'?
I don't know, you'll have to ask what 'Jack' thinks.
'Into The Woods' plays Queensland Performing Arts Centre 1-4 October.
