Into The Woods. Revival

[coalhouse]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 5:04am

I know im afew years late, so please forgive my tardyness on the subject. Just a few hours ago, I pulled out the revival cast recording of ITW. Alot of fond memories came flooding back on how it was one of (if not) the best production I had ever seen. Dont get me wrong...'Wood's' has always been special. But I particularly felt THIS production, captured the magic, humour, heart & opened so many doors that the previous production never had done (disregarding the obvious minor changes to the score & plot). I remember some of the changes were wonderful, yet a number of them didn't need alteration. I found Vanessa Williams's approach to the witch, extremely refreshing. Seeming like she was standing back with the crowd most of the time, becoming one of the 'ensemble', which was extremely effective to watch (particularly with that character). It was my first introduction to Laura Benanti, I wasn't disapointed. My faviroute character's have always been The Baker and (Baker's) Wife. Stephen DeRosa and Kerry O'Malley showed me why. And I wanted to take Milky White home...

What were people's thought's on the production...?
anyone agree? or not? Updated On: 2/5/05 at 05:04 AM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 7:30am

Coalhouse, your interpretation was wonderful. This production truly was special. Vanessa Williams brought power and depth to The Witch. Laura Benanti's Cinderella was witty and charming. I think that her version of "On the Steps of the Palace" far surpasses the original. John McMartin was a great Narrator. This whole production was pretty near flawless. It's a damn shame that it only had a six month run and didn't make any money. Well, that always seems to happen to the best of them.

BTW, your avatar is pure pefrection.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 8:21am

I agree 100%. This production still remains my favorite out of everything I have seen. I'm glad to hear this support, because I know a lot of people didn't like it. I was crushed to see it close. I only got to see it twice, which wasn't nearly enough.

[Aphexis]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 8:42am

You know...I went and saw this production three times. I went back hoping to find the part of the show that would "hook" me, and I never did. It's not that I didn't enjoy the show, it's that I felt there was a little something missing. The magic that kept the cast together or maybe a clear focus on one aspect of the story. In the original, we followed the Baker's Wife and that's who tied the rest of the story together for the audience. In this production, I never got the opportunity to focus on any one couple/character. There's no arguing that this was an extremely talented cast who fit their roles beautifully but I wasn't taken away to a "far-off kingdom."

[zoran912]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 10:28am

I loved it. It is the best thing I've ever seen on Broadway. Period. I absolutely loved it.

[perfusion]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 10:45am

Luv,Luv,Luved it!!!!!!!!!!!
Vanessa is one of my favorites,can't wait to see what she doing next.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 11:48am

This was the first Sondheim show I ever saw. I didn't like the production all that much. I much prefer the 1988 one.

[coalhouse]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 12:01pm

I remember it being such a beautifully polished piece of work. Such a great reason to be alive and at the theatre!

[AbzugFan]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 12:05pm

Aphexis, I think the reason we followed the Baker's Wife in the 1988 production was because of Joanna Gleason's performance. I first saw the show on tour in 1989 or 1990, and found I was focusing on Cinderella and the Baker's Wife equally (maybe a little more on Cinderella). With the revival I was even more drawn to Cinderella because of Laura Benanti's talents in that role. But pop in the video of the original cast, and its the Baker's Wife's story--Joanna Gleason dominates every scene she's in, and draws in the audience's affections.

However, all this proves is how amazing Into the Woods is as a show--it is so flexible and malleable in its dramatic trajectory, and is compelling theatre no matter who is starring, and which main characters come to the fore.

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 2:47pm

Thank you for your post. "Into the Woods" was the first Sondheim show I had ever seen. I was very impressed at the complexity of the plot. It wasn't like a dumbed down Disney musical. The acting, singing were all first class. I enjoyed it so much more than I ever thought I would. For someone who lives out of town, the recognition of having a Tony really helped me decide which show to see.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 2:51pm

Woods was the first show I fell in love with, so, finally seeing this revival made it a WONDERFUL expierence. it was SO GREAT! i loved it!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 3:07pm

I never got to see it, but I LOVE the CD. I'm a fan of Vanessa Williams so yeah, I knew I'd love it. I like the revival CD better than the original. yeah, yeah, don't hit me...

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 3:19pm

i like the revival better except for the screwing up of last midnight. everytime it comes on i cover my ears and skip it. it is HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! TERRIBLE I SAY! the f*cked up Last Midnight. dear me, along with Hello Little Girl- but Laura, Greg, and Kerry are SO BRILLIANT!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 3:20pm

well, see, I liked the changes. and "Our Little World" is perfect... haha.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 3:23pm

I loved the staging of "Last Midnight." Vanessa Williams was stunning and haunting.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 3:26pm

Reefer Madness- teehee. Oh, i do like Our Little Word. its great.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 4:36pm

I really despised the revival - I thought Vanessa Williams, Marylouise Burke, Molly Ephraim, Kerry O'Mally, and the kid that played Jack to be extremely lacking and terrible. I hated the "storybook" concept and they tried to make it too "kid-friendly," which it's not - it's a scary show and nothing captured it more brilliantly than the original. It doesn't work when you try to turn it into a lighthearted piece of fluff - I thought the direction was just terrible. The lighting was amazing, and the sets were good (for what they were.) The only thing I truly liked about this production was how at the end they all weaved around the story book and disappeared inside - I thought that was magical. Laura Benanti was wonderful as always, and even Greg Edelman and Stephen DeRosa weren't bad, but the production was just so flat and so lacking that I can't imagine how people who saw the original enjoyed the revival...just terrible.

[BWAYboi_yes]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 4:59pm

the show was pretty. i think james lapine honestly forgot what we had set out to direct the first time. it was was nearly as powerful as the original, but still good. like i said, i'm not saying the show was bad, but it doesn't hold a candle to the original. bernadette and joanna were perfection, followed closely by kim crosby and danielle ferlind or whatever her name was. molly ephram or whatever was awful, (not as awful as ugly chuck wager in the orginal) and things like that. wow, i'm all over the place with this. the revival was good. the original was better.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 5:03pm

"not as awful as ugly chuck wager in the orginal"

First of all, I'm not sure why a comparison is being made between the actor who played Rapunzel's Prince and the actress who played Little Red.

Second, it's Chuck WagNer. He's certainly not ugly, but that's besides the point; there's no need to resort to attacks on someone's appearance.

I didn't see the revival, but the only things I find worthwhile on the revival recording are Benanti, McMartin, and Our Little World.

[coalhouse]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 10:35pm

I remember...

Immediately buying the cast recording as soon it was released. It was fantastic to hear a 'fresh voice'. Yes, I enjoyed it but i wasn't 'over the moon' about what i heard. (I remember 'at the time' being infactuated with 'the last 5 years' which took up most of my listening hours)

I do agree about Jack & Little Red. Though (clearly) the weakest, they WERE kids. Thus provided a beautiful innocence, and the perfect contrast, to the other character's. I applaud the casting. Particluarly choosing a young couple for The Baker and (Baker's) Wife. This was a big (emotional) highlight for me.

I think the show IS what it IS, because of some bloody intelligent & entertaining material. I think a show, (like this) that offers itself up for so much interpretation, is a reflection of the strength of 'that' material. unrestricted. Allowing, it to become FRESH & REBORN, giving it a new pulse. Almost like watching it for the first time.

Keep up the talking guys. Im inspired now Updated On: 2/5/05 at 10:35 PM

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 10:52pm

I saw the same high school production of it twice and now it's among my favorite shows. Most of the people who saw the show said that it was long and boring but I thought it was amazing.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 2/5/05 at 11:02pm

This revival was my first Sondheim show and I truly loved it.

[seasons of love]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:47am

I saw the revival once, and I wasn't dissappointed.... but I wasn't blown away either. I think that I'm still partial to the Origional Cast. I will say that the staging was very good, and I absolutely loved Lauren Benanti's take on Cinderella. It was very refreshing and I think that was probably the only performance that I enjoyed over the OBC performance. I think that I'm a little baised because Bernadette was so amazing as the Witch. Vanessa just didn't do it for me... I thought that Bernadette was stronger.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:49am

I thought Vanessa did a lovely job as the Witch.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/6/05 at 8:58am

Vanessa Williams did it for me in every single way, she was a wonderful witch. I saw the original version and loved it. I saw this revival and I continue to love it.

There is nothing so boring as to go see a revival and see every aspect of the original show re-done. I'm all for changes (when they make sense and work to benefit the show) and I felt the changes made to "Into the Woods" for it's revival were good. They didn't hurt the piece at all.

Laura Benanti as "Cinderella" and John McMartin as "The Narrator" were oustanding among the cast.