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Mill Valley’s Throckmorton Theatre has launched a tremendous production of “Into the Woods,” the perpetually popular and nearly 40-year-old musical spoof of classic fairy tales by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim and author James Lapine.

An exceedingly clever mashup of classic fairy tales — including “Cinderella,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Little Red Riding Hood” — the show debuted on Broadway in 1987, won multiple Tony Awards and has been a recurring item for regional and community theater troupes for decades.

The production in the marvelous Throckmorton Theatre benefits from a deep, wide stage transformed into a daunting forest with many enormous trees (set design by Steve Coleman and Jean-Paul LaRosee) and with a descending path that wraps around the seven-member band led by Diana Lee, forming a sort of orchestra pit. In the forest reside Jack and his mother; the Baker and his wife; Little Red Riding Hood; Cinderella, her evil stepmother and her sisters; Cinderella’s prince; Rapunzel and her prince; and many other denizens of childhood folklore.

They’re all there on the big stage, living in apparent harmony other than being tormented by a domineering witch (Riley Cover on opening night, alternating with Helen Kay) with powerful talents for malevolent manipulation.

The first act is complete unto itself, a lightweight but endearing comic treatment of familiar characters whose various quests send them “into the woods” — hence the show’s title. It’s an adult concept appropriate for kids, so appropriate in fact that act one is often chosen as a stand-alone for school performances.

The second act takes a darker and deeply ironic turn — not really suitable for kids, although there were plenty in attendance on opening night. Act two revisits the characters later in life to explore how far offtrack they’ve gone after having gotten everything they thought they might want — riches, beauty or the perfect mate. Careful what you wish for!

Director Reba Gilbert gets finely honed, briskly paced performances from a massive cast, including John Diaz (Declan Drey on other dates) as the Narrator, Tallula Rice as Cinderella’s evil stepmother (alternating with Maya Donalds), Parker Hall as Jack (alternating with Luca Cedolin) and Reyes Lake as Jack’s mother (alternating with Bella Martinez).

George Pringle and Finn Davis share the role of the Baker, as do Noa Weis and Maddie Basich as the Baker’s wife. Felix Maxwell is Cinderella’s prince (alternating with Max Pigoski) and the Big Bad Wolf. The essential role of Cinderella was powerfully performed on opening night by Claire Allen (alternating with Autumn Galatti), as was long-suffering Rapunzel, played by Kaya Katznelson (alternating with Sam Garfinkel). Declan Drey is charming as Rapunzel’s prince in a role shared with Jack Lapic. Siena Wyman is dynamic and engaging as Little Red Riding Hood in a role shared with Madison Bishop.

All major roles require high-volume vocal abilities, and all are enormously satisfying. Adventurous choreography by Erin Gentry and Gina Chapman has performers all over the big stage, and, in some cases, above it or on the floor in front of it.

The biggest surprise is James Chui — in an amazing costume by Abra Berman — who appears in every performance as the problematic cow Milky White, with especially challenging choreography. Milky White’s headpiece, designed and built by Amie Schow, and arm stilts, designed and built by Doug Bauer, bring the look together. All the costumes in this show are amazing, by the way, and like the set and musical support, indicative of a daunting production budget. Alyssa Saylor’s lighting design and sound by Ben Reese make major contributions to the show’s impact.

An indisputable national treasure, Sondheim was noted for beautiful lyrics (“West Side Story”) and often for awkward melodies that can be challenging for singers, musicians and audiences alike. Difficult melodies and arrangements have never made a dent in his popularity.

As with everything presented by the Throckmorton Theatre within recent memory, this “Into the Woods” is seamlessly professional. At the Throck, it’s generously and gorgeously delivered.

Barry Willis is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and president of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. Contact him at barry.m.willis@gmail.com.

If you go

What: “Into the Woods”

Where: Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley

When: Through May 31

Admission: $30 to $48 plus $3 fee

Information: 415-383-9600; throckmortontheatre.org

Rating (out of five stars): 4 stars