Into The Woods

Hey peeps! Did you think the Into The Woods revival was brought back too soon? I never saw the revival, just the video with Bernadette Peters. I just thought why did they revive it when Ms. Peters is still alive and well, and could easily perform the Witch again. I just wonder how she felt also. Seeing a role she created done, while she's still in PERFECT performing condition! How was Vanessa?? (For those who saw the revival)

I really hated the revival. Vanessa Williams was nowhere close to Bernadette.

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Sorry. I wasn't comparing Bernadette and Vanessa. I was just saying that Vanessa's take on the witch wasn't as good as Bernadette's. Bernadette created the role, so her mark will always be on it, just like Ethel Merman with Rose and Joel Grey with the Emcee. And I appreciate you calling me a moron. Maybe you should take a second look at yourself before you go making erroneous claims.

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Updated On: 8/26/03 at 06:48 PM

Can you not read? I explained Vanessa and Bernadette in my last post. Joel Grey created the role of the Emcee and it was played by everyone the same way UNTIL Alan Cumming did it. Joel's mark will always be on it. And the same goes with Ethel Merman. I HATE HER, as most people who post here know. But nevertheless, Merman will ALWAYS be associated with the role of Rose.

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Well, I once read an interview with Bernadette where she said that she doesn't like to revist roles and would probably never perform the same role twice. So I doubt she took any offense to them reviving ITW while she's still performing.

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Which actors were embarresed from doing the jazz square? What leads were not able to sing besides Adam?

Updated On: 8/26/03 at 07:56 PM

Yeah it's been debated that Little Red has been stereo-casted into a plump young girl and Molly couldn't pull off some of the lines because of her trim figure.

I found from the video that Bernadette overacted very much. Maybe it was just her take on the role. I hated Vanessa in previews but got MUCH better into the run.
I also LOVED Kerry O'Malley. So much warmth brought to the role. I liked her soooooo much more than Joanna Gleason only in the sense that it was warmth vs. coldness.

Nooo whats the link>! I wish I could get to CALI! And yes, I am a devoted fan :)
In the club in fact.
She sent me a personalized letter, signed headshot, and a whole cast signed playbill from ITW when I told her how much I enjoyed her performance!

oops i knew that lol. wait what is the link to the pic u were talking about Kerry in her Mother costume>?!

californiamusicaltheatre.com. Kerry will be an AMAZING Mother. Can't you just hear her "Back to Before"? She'll be incredible. Too bad I won't be able to see her, ugh. 6 hours away! Just 6 HOURS!

Anyway. I loved the revival. I saw it in LA and *coughidontremembermuchofthedetailscough* because you know how it is, seeing a Sondheim show for the first time. But I do remember that I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I love the recording. I thought that ultimately they had a strong cast. Vanessa got bashed a lot because she was compared to Bernadette. She had a different interpretation of the Witch, and I think she did a great job. She was so "divaish." And same with Kerry. She was not as loved as she would have been if Joanna had been terrible in the original...most people were simply disappointed because "Kerry was not Joanna." I love Kerry and I give her so much credit. She's amazing.

By the way Nic, I cannot look at your signature without laughing.

I loved Joanna, but Kerry was great also. Stephen had it all over Chip. What a rich voice. And I saw all of em doing it live, not just the tape of the first cast.

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Namo,

If you were serious about your post, I absolutely agree. However, I liked Kerry better than Johanna.

The reason I prefered Kerry over Johanna in general is that, besides her just being an amazing performer/singer/actress overall, I liked the vulnerability that she brought to the role. And by her doing that, she was much more pitiable, and the audience I feel, was much more shocked in general, when the Giant kills her, after "Moments". And her line: "Just remembering you've had an 'and' when you're back to 'or' makes the 'or' mean more than it did before" seemed like a genuine revelation, and not some smug/almost wise-cracking comment.

Vanessa - She was just fantastic, and I am glad that she made the role her own. I too, have found Bernadette to overact as the Witch, and to me, that defeats the whole purpose of the role. Her interpretation resulted in her coming across as too "schticky". Bernadette probably could get the audience to crack up with the raise of an eyebrow....that's how carried away it got, and the Witch does have moments of humor, but I don't think the Witch is a comedic role. Her purpose is to basically say and know the things that all the other characters don't want to. Vanessa, had funny moments, but overall, I think she took the role seriously, and I feel, in her interpretation made the Witch more three dimensional. Her "Last Midnight" was definitely the highlight of the production.

As for all of the other supporting roles, I really had no problems with them, except for Adam Wylie, because he couldn't sing at all, and he was just too weird-looking, and I enjoyed the cast much more towards the end of the revival run - with the additions of Nora Mae Lyng as Jack's Mom, and Joy Franz playing the role of the Stepmother again.

Just my humble opinion.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

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