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'Into the Woods' opens to a crowd of luminaries with much aplomb

"Into the Woods" is finally here, opening to a crowd of luminaries Wednesday night, which included National Artist Ricky Lee, international darling Dolly De Leon, direk Jose Javier Reyes, showbiz personalities Judy Ann Santos, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Christian Bautista to name just a few. The hype is well-deserved. Despite the occasional malfunctioning mics, a material that's a wee bit too long, and a second act hovering on messy, Theater Group Asia's staging of "Into the Woods" is a testament to Filipino talent through and through. Because the beloved Stephen Sondheim musical — three-hours long with a sophisticated musical sense — means serious business for performers. It takes more than talent to deliver those challenging lines with an even more challenging phrasing. Apart from the memory work, there is also the physical strength and endurance required as well as intense breathing work but the cast nailed it to a T. Of course, Lea Salonga is a given. But even then, the Tony award-winning theater actress manages impress and and exceed expectations. And even amid the makeup and prosthetics — perhaps precisely because of them — she is a joy to watch. Eugene Domingo, more popular as a comedienne than a singer, manages to hold it out on her own with her singing, as Nic Chien, who must be the recipient of extra attention given he is Lea Salonga's child. Mark Bautista (Rapunzel's prince) Nyoy Volante (Baker), Mikkie Bradshaw Volante (Baker's wife), Jamie Wilson (Cinderella's Father and The Steward), Carla Guevara Laforteza (The Giant and Granny), and Rody Vera (narrator), theater veterans that they are, showcased not just their talent but their professionalism and more importantly, their years of experience. Teetin Villanueva gave Little Red Riding Hood a whole lot of personality that's so unique and cool and funny, she reminds us of Chun-Li from "Street Fighter." It reads like a stretch, we know, but her hair is fixed in two buns and she casually plays with balisong so maybe the comparison is not as far out. Arielle Jacobs meanwhile is a fitting actor to play Cinderella — comedic where it matters, graceful where it is expected, and beautiful all around. But it's Josh dela Cruz who is the real revelation, playing both as Prince Charming and The Wolf to perfection. His expressions are spot on, his comedic flare evident, and wow, what a voice! He acts with his whole body, making his characters extra funny, extra punchy, and extra everything. His scenes with Mark, equally a commanding actor, are among the best in the three-hour bonanza, and their duet on "Agony," among the most memorable. That said, much love must be given to the 19-piece orchestra, which provided not just the musical background and the accompaniment to song numbers, but the sound effects as well, making even the small scenes pivotal and important. The gala performance featured Gerald Salonga helming the orchestra. "Into the Woods" runs until August 31. Tickets are already sold out but if by some miracle you manage to come across them, please do yourselves a favor and buy them. It will be three hours of topnotch entertainment that'll make you forget about the real world for a while. — GMA Integrated News