Torn Ticket II's major production 'Into The Woods' opens tonight

Torn Ticket II's major spring production, "Into the Woods," opens tonight in Cohen Auditorium. One of musical genius Stephen Sondheim's most popular plays, "Into the Woods" presents well-known fairy tales, such as Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, geared toward a more adult audience.
    Producer Samantha Kindler, a sophomore, explained that "Into the Woods" isn't just a fairy tale, as some might assume.
    "We wanted to approach the show in a darker, more adult way," Kindler said. "You can definitely see that in the set and the costumes, [and] also in interactions between certain characters."
    Senior Ansley Fones is directing the play in her last semester here at Tufts. She chose "Into the Woods" because of the universal themes found in fairy tales. Fones hopes that students will be interested in seeing their old favorite fairy tales with a new spin.
    "This is a show about storytelling," Fones said. "It takes the stories out of the realm of children's tales. It also reminds adults about the importance of ambiguous morals."
    If the first act of the "Into the Woods" reminds the audience of all its favorite fairy tales, then the second act reminds viewers that there is life after ‘happily ever after.' The play deals with themes of insanity and adultery, but mainly, "Into the Woods" is about the complicated relationships between a parent and a child.
    Mixed in with old favorites is a more original story about the Baker and the Baker's wife, loosely based on the "Rapunzel" fairy tale, which ties in with the rest of the traditional stories. The couple's marital troubles are explored alongside those of two obnoxiously charming princes and their inability to stay faithful to their princesses. All of the characters come together at one point or another in an intricate, original fairy tale.
    "Into the Woods" runs tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in Cohen Auditorium. Tickets are being sold at the Balch Arena Theater Box Office for $7.