I think so – around these parts, Into the Woods seems to be the show of choice. Katie’s school just finished up their performance, a local middle school did the Broadway Junior version, the private non-religious high school in town did it this past weekend too, and try-outs for the Fort Wayne Civic production are next weekend. I’m thinking – 50% off royalty fees, this month only?  Well.

Yes, Into The Woods is over and done with – Katie was in the ensemble, although I will say that in the last few days there was a very All About Eve moment as she got into the car one day after rehearsal and announced that she had slowly but steadily connived her way into a speaking role – Snow White. Who comes on stage with Sleeping Beauty at the end, yawns, and says, "Excuse me."

(The reason? The girl who was to be SW couldn’t make the Sunday performance. Katie was the first one in line who fit into the costume. So. )

It was fairly good – it’s a very challenging show – it is Sondheim, after all – and despite Katie’s despair last Sunday, with three more rehearsals to go, it did come together pretty nicely, and was a smooth production. Unfortunately, only one of the male principals could sing, which was a problem, but there were several excellent female voices and some decent acting there, too.

But…(theater peeps…feel free)

You know how it was in the old days, when you’d go to a school dramatic production and you couldn’t understand 80% of what was being said onstage because no one had taught them how to project?

Well, the news is that wireless amplification systems are relatively inexpensive (perhaps especially if they’re rented) and are therefore ubiquitous – all the principals are miked, doing the whole headset thing, but because the systems are undependable and perhaps not quite understood, and half the kids are eating the mikes, you still can’t understand 80% of what’s being said.

When I open comments in the AM talk to me about stage amplification. It’s old news, but it still rubs me the wrong way. There were times in this show during which the mikes weren’t on for some reason – the tech messed up or something and forgot to unmute – and although the girl singing was much fainter it was almost a relief to hear an unfiltered, natural voice, just coming to us from the stage.

There were some impressive moments – because the principals who had the heaviest burdens were well-chosen and talented, the most complex musical pieces were very well done, clear and smooth. The kids certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves.

And Katie yawned very well. Which, to those who know her, would not be too surprising.

At this point, she’s saying she won’t try out for the Civic production. She’s pretty exhausted  right now (she also had her first Speech meet yesterday, and was gone from 7am to 4, came back, and had to go to school again at 5:30 for the show, and then had a matinee today) But I’m thinking by Thursday she might be singing a different song. We’ll see.