Into The Woods, Royal Exchange

IN Shakespeare's plays, the forest is a magical place where people lose their inhibitions, a place where you can expect the unexpected.

So it is with Into The Woods, Sondheim's masterpiece of a musical at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

The first act felt like a very short 90 minutes and I could have easily gone home more than satisfied then, for the simple reason this production is flawless in every respect.

Some of the music is so unashamedly lovely it sent a shiver down my back and Sondheim's lyrics are breathtakingly clever and witty, while the master composer, as always, resists any temptation to descend into self indulgence.

If you've never seen Into The Woods, and it was my first time, several of our favourite fairytales come together, including Jack and the Beanstalk. Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood.

The fairytales have more of an adult tinge and this particularly comes into play in the second act, which is marked contrast to the fun-filled, faster paced first half.

Director Matthew Xia must have shed a tear when rehearsals ended as this cast are as talented as they are charismatic.

I particularly liked Alex Gaumond and Amy Ellen Richardson as the Baker and the Baker's Wife.

Gaumond has quite a stage presence and Richardson and Francesca Zouthwelle, who plays Cinderella, sing like angels.

Maxine Peake sounds very scary as the voice of a giant with a murderous grudge.

Live theatre doesn't get any better than this. Into The Woods is a magical journey you simply must make.

- Into The Woods is on until January 16. The box office is on 0161 833 9833.

RICK BOWEN