For the past week, the Zachary High theater department has blessed audiences with their performance of Into the Woods, starring Tycen Smith (11), Amelia Dupre (11), Braelynn White (9), Eyrnn Williams (10), Grace Noel (10), and Da’Marion Wilson (9). The play follows the baker, played by Tycen Smith, and his wife, played by Amelia Dupre, as they go on an adventure to retrieve a number of items for a witch, played by Braelynn White.
Along the way, they encounter other characters from famous fairytales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.
Smith truly brought this play to life. Though he has appeared in a few minor roles in school plays in the past, this was Smith’s first major role with ZHS theater. He portrayed the baker so well, nailing the exasperated expressions and annoyed attitude. His voice was also impressive. In the song, “No One is Alone,” Smith’s vocal ability shined, leaving the audience absolutely stunned.
Amelia Dupre was incredible as the baker’s wife. She’s previously starred in The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy in her freshman year and Matilda as Miss Honey last year, so I wasn’t surprised by her performance this year. Her delivery and facial expressions during her more comedic lines drew laughter from the audience, and her chemistry on stage with Smith was impressive. Even as high-school actors, Smith and Dupre have managed a level of maturity in their acting that has allowed them to portray complex relationships on stage.
“It was a little bit weird when we started doing choreo where we had to hug on each other, but we both understood that it was for the role,” Dupre (11) said. “I think it was just a mutual understanding of wanting to put on a good show.”
But her acting wasn’t even the best part of Dupre’s performance. The young actress worked in and out of class for six months to perfect the high notes she had to hit for her role, eventually becoming comfortable and familiar with her singing parts.
“Once you sing something for so long… your voice just gets used to it, and that’s really good because, especially when the nerves hit, you need to go into autopilot,” Dupre said.
Grace Noel, who played Little Red Riding Hood, was amazing (as always). Previously appearing in Matilda as Matilda last year, Noel has quickly risen as a star within the theater department at Zachary High. Her performance this time around was spectacular. I especially loved how she changed her voice to sound more childish because she portrayed a young girl. Even when she was singing, Noel maintained that intense nasally sound, which added so much to the overall play.
Erynn Williams (10) was the perfect pick to play Cinderella. As soon as she sang her first note in the prologue, I was immediately drawn to her voice. The audience was mesmerized by her unbelievably high notes and the smooth way she tied the notes together. When asked how she hit her high notes, she used Fisherman’s Friends cough drops to loosen her voice and achieve that smooth sound.
Williams expressed that she loved working with this cast. The group bonded in and outside of school, connecting at rehearsals and over card games.
“You start out not knowing anybody, but… we played this card game called We’re Not Really Strangers, and the questions got deeper and deeper, so we [got] to know everybody more, and we just [got] closer,” said Williams.
Portraying Jack from the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk, Da’Marion Wilson started off his high school theater career on a high note (literally). The audience absolutely fell in love with Wilson’s character. His young voice was perfect for the role, adding to the overall characterization of Jack as innocent and naive, but it was also powerful enough to make an impact on the audience.
Until intermission when I checked the program, I assumed Braelynn White was an upperclassman due to the sheer power and might in her voice as the witch. I was shocked to learn that this is her first year with the ZHS theater department! White possesses the rare ability to give you goosebumps with her incredible voice. I was blown away by her performance and can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.
Overall, I thought the production of Into the Woods was one of the best musicals to come out of the theater department in the past three years that I’ve been reporting on the group. I, along with the rest of Zachary High, was left speechless and eager for more!
