‘Into the Woods’ : a musical journey worth taking

By Alex Carrier Special Correspondent
Published: May 15, 2008

The minute you meet Director Normajean Hultman you know why this trip Into the Woods will be no ordinary journey.  She is excited, enthusiastic and energetic - all of which she passes on to cast and crew.
In action Hultman offers encouragement and comments designed to better each person’s performance.  In private, she praises equally all those who have put hard work into presenting the audience with an enjoyable experience. 
Hultman is a 2003 William Monroe High School graduate who earned a Bachelor’s degree in theater.  While working in the school library, however, she decided to change her career path and pursue a graduate degree in library science. 
She currently works in the Health Sciences Library at the University of Virginia and signed up to direct the play as a last chance to see if library science was the direction she truly wanted her life to follow. 
Like the characters in the play discovering their true selves and goals during their journey, Hultman also determined her future direction.
“Working as a librarian and directing the play at the same time showed me what I really wanted to do – teach drama.”
Unfortunately that won’t be soon enough to fill the empty position at WMHS but who knows what the future may hold - for both. 
This production of Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale musical was revised into a trim version just right for its young cast.  The lean sets and musical accompaniment allowed the actors to be the true stars of the show offering the audience a uniquely enjoyable opportunity to view up-and-coming Greene talent.
While retaining Sondheim’s quirky, skewed vision of happily every after this version was molded to showcase the individual talents of the group.  The pared down accompaniment provided the perfect background to both story and storytellers. 
The quick-paced play moved along a twisted path through a three-night period in which characters search for fulfillment of their dreams but find anticipation more pleasant than actuality and that happily every after is the real fairy tale.
All this happens with wit and humor and music.  Along the way you meet an on-its-last-legs cow, a pair of not-so-noble nobles, frustrated women who are non-to-pleased with the men in their lives and earnest men who just can’t seem to get it right.
It was no surprise to me in chatting with Hultman to find the story backstage was as interesting and entertaining as the production itself.
The set, sound, lighting, costumes and props were almost completely done by students.  The bad-curly-hair-day Rapunzel locks were two Lady Godiva wigs found on eBay.
Neither of the exceptional musicians ever read the musical score and the pianist does not read music.
Almost 80% of cast and crew are underclassman so we should get the opportunity to see more of their talents. 
The actor playing the mysterious man was called in at the last minute to play the part and had only 3 rehearsals. 
The actor playing Jack is scheduled to reprise the role in the Orange County production.  He and his parents created the Giant’s harp and the erratically-mechanical goose that lays the golden eggs.
The actor playing the cow only joined the production at the urging of friends but got so caught up in the part, he would moo at the director whenever he saw her. 
Superintendent of Greene County Schools Ray Dingledine has had a walk-on/cameo part in every performance at the school since he became superintendent.  Dingledine is a University of Virginia graduate and the drama teacher he first worked with, Joyce Sweet, is a rival Virginia Tech graduate. 
Sweet - with cohort Martha Taylor – started the tradition of Dingledine wearing costumes designed so the Virginia Tech emblem or colors of maroon and orange were prominently displayed.  (Director Hultman credits Joyce Sweet with inspiring her to be a theater teacher.)
The costume tradition continued through all the cameos including this one in which Dingledine appeared in a white tunic with a turkey on the front (the VT mascot) and wearing a clock emblazoned with VT.
With his retirement at the end of this school year, this was Dingledine’s 18th and final performance.  He has so enjoyed his participation; he requested that the money being gathered to buy him a retirement gift be donated to the WMHS performing arts center instead.