By David A. Sargent,Special to the Sun Journal

MONMOUTH – Tackling one of Broadway’s more ambitious and complicated shows, a talented Monmouth Community Players cast guides the Cumston Hall audience on an intriguing trip “Into the Woods.”

There are numerous standout performances.

As the witch, Doris Langlais makes her debut with the Monmouth group. She has the show’s most familiar song, “Children Will Listen,” which sums up the principal message in the preceding madness.

Her “Lament” is also well done, telling us, “Now you know what’s out there in the world. No one stays untainted by the world.”

Her costume and makeup as the magic-wielding hag are excellent, and her dramatic skills make it work.

In fact, Susan Tedrick has done a fine job as costume coordinator for all the characters.

As Cinderella, 16-year-old Rylee Doiron is obviously an up-and-coming performer to watch. Her voice, though lacking force, is very pleasing, and she has excellent stage sense.

Doiron, a junior at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, has already performed in more than 20 shows.

Michael Girouard, a freshman at St. Dominic Regional High School, is Jack, the dimwitted but determined boy whose mishandled beans spell calamity for the fairy-tale community. Girouard has been seen in L-A Community Little Theatre productions, and he is developing a solid talent for comedy.

Alyra Donisvitch is particularly well-suited to the role of Little Red Ridinghood. She’s able to project just the right blend of innocence and incipient sensuality.

Her solo, “I Know Things Now,” is clever and well done.

Other fine performances by the “Into the Woods” cast include the two princes, Mathew Buganza and Adam Blais, whose duet, “Agony,” is a tongue-in-cheek duel between the brothers about the tribulations in their royal lives. Blais also plays the wolf, who’s no match for the feisty Little Red Ridinghood.

Michael French and Katie St. Pierre are the baker and his wife, two central characters whose quest for magical items to reverse their curse of childlessness entangles all the others in the storybook world.

French, who also directed the show, plunges through his tasks with an abundance of intensity. While the underlying themes of “Into the Woods” are serious and complex, it might be better to put more obvious playfulness into the role.

Despite that criticism, it’s his dramatic and heartfelt rendition of “No More” near the end that is a highlight of the show.

St. Pierre, a St. Dom’s senior, is another of the younger performers, but she delivers a mature performance in the demanding role of the baker’s wife.

This show, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, takes several familiar fairy tales and weaves a new and complex story that’s filled with moral messages. In fact, it’s a cornucopia of cautionary one-liners, and the messages are intentionally mixed.

Several important ensemble numbers, including “Your Fault” and “Prologue: Into the Woods,” feature a difficult rapid-fire style of syncopated speech and are done with skill.

While “Into the Woods” may be based on fairy tales, it’s definitely not a show for children. Youngsters might find some fun in the clever costumes and nonstop action, but there’s a lot of violence – either implied or presented on stage – that could be upsetting.

It is that darker side of stories we often think are meant just for children that makes “Into the Woods” compelling and thought-provoking theater.

This production is definitely worth catching, but, as Cinderella tells us, “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.”

Remaining performances at Monmouth’s Cumston Hall are Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20; and March 24-26. The Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

Tickets may be reserved by calling 582-5717 or e-mailing tickets@monmouth communityplayers.org.

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