By REBECCA BURK ELLIS / L’Observateur / July 29, 1998

LUTCHER – The St. James Community Theater will be going “Into theWoods” for its summer production beginning this Friday at 7 p.m.Other showtimes are Aug. 1, 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 2 at 2 p.m.The play, “Into the Woods,” merges several fairy tales together as a baker and his wife try to reverse a curse that an evil witch placed on the baker’s family long ago.

The baker’s father stole beans from the witch’s garden and in turn the witch put a curse on his family, including the curse of sterility on his son – the baker. She also kidnapped the baker’s only sister, Rapunzel.The only way the baker could get the spell reversed so he and wife could have children and to save his long-lost sister is to gather four special items, which brings in characters from other well-known fables. He has toget a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as pure as gold, bringing in Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinderella.

The talented cast has been practicing since May for the two-and-a-half hour musical, producer Claudia Frederic said.

“It’s going wonderful,” director Chris Frederic said. “This is the mosttalented cast we’ve ever had doing the most difficult show ever.”Cast members are Rick Esposito as the narrator, Toni Esposito Roussel as Cinderella, Matt Arceneaux as Jack, Donna Conran as Jack’s mother, Chris Frederic as the baker, Merri Dornier as the baker’s wife, Deidre C. Detillieras Cinderella’s stepmother, Tammi Esposito and Rachel Hoover as Florinda, Heidi Schaff and Heather J. Day as Lucinda, Glenn Waguespack asCinderella’s father, Melanie Kunz as Little Red Riding Hood, Irene Poche as the witch, Catherine Schaff as Cinderella’s mother, David J. Porche Sr. asthe wolf, Ashley C. Elliot as Granny, Amanda Faye Mathews as Rapunzel,Kaleb Robert Duhon as Rapunzel’s prince, Scott D. Carter as Cinderella’sprince, Reid Day as the steward, Ashley C. Elliot as the giant, RachelHoover and Tammi Esposito as Snow White and Heather J. Day and HeidiSchaff as Sleeping Beauty.

There is also a special appearance by the Mystery Man, whose identity will not be revealed until the show.

Tickets are available at Roussel’s in Gramercy and cost $8 for adults and $4 for children. Call 869-3569 or 869-9036 for more information.

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