Into the Woods question: "Our Little World"
Into the Woods question: "Our Little World"
#1Into the Woods question: "Our Little World"
Posted: 7/5/07 at 5:43pmI bought the Libretto for cheap at a used book sale, but it doesn't have "Our Little World". I was wondering if there is dialogue that sets up this song or if it is just inserted before or after the witch asks Rapunzel to let down her hair? Or not? How is it incorporated?
#2re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:10pm
I've never heard of this song. It's not listed on the original musical (ibdb.com), or in the reunion concert special. It's only listed in the 02 revival.
I'm guessing they added it for Vanessa Williams.
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#2re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:13pmI thought it was added for the London production of ITW, no?
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commasplice
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#3re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:13pm
"I've never heard of this song. It's not listed on the original musical (ibdb.com), or in the reunion concert special. It's only listed in the 02 revival.
I'm guessing they added it for Vanessa Williams."
It was originally in the London production.
(Alas, CATS, I can't help you, but I'd also like to know.)
#4re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:26pmIt was definitely added for the London production. I've seen it used in three different productions, including the recent Broadway revival. So I'm pretty sure that I'm correct in my recollection that there is no dialogue lead up to the song. It is inserted after the I Guess This Is Goodbye / Maybe They're Magic sequence. At most they may have transitioned with a "as for Rapunzel..." from the narrator.
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#5re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:33pm
Yes, it was added for London. In fact, the one used in the recent Broadway revival is actually a shortened version of the song. You can hear the whole thing on the London album. Rapunzel's role is pretty puny without it. When I did the show several years ago (before the revival), the song was published in the individual cast books but not in the score.
I'm trying to remember if they used it in the production I saw in Houston with Leslie Uggams and Lenny Wolpe.
Updated On: 7/5/07 at 08:33 PM
#6re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:52pmit's used in place of the whitch just climbing into the tower in act one, the song starts the scene .
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#7re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:27pmIt's a fun song that I think adds something to Rapunzel. Every other character in the show has something memorable to work with....Rapunzel, initially, did not.
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#8re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:25am
We did the song recently in our production of Woods...I was Rapunzel...
The scene started with teh Narrarator's dialogue, and Rapunzel's Aaahhs, which lead into the song. Her hair is lowered after the first verse. Then the rest of the song is sang...and the scene ends with the witch climbing up Rapunzel's hair and Rapunzel aaah ing in pain :)
does that help?
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#9re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:32am
side note:
CALVIN! it was that production that got me into musical theatre! i'm also pretty sure they did use the number. I have the playbill at home so i;ll look on monday
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Jon
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#10re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:21amIt's included in the licenced version as "optional material" - meaning each production can choose to do it or not.
#11re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:26am
Woo, CQ! 
I went in thinking Wolpe would be WAY too old to be the Baker, but actually, it kinda made sense to have an older Baker, which makes the whole being childless thing a little more poignant. I was thinking they used the song, too.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#12re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:39am
When we did it, I was the Witch, and we didn't use it. Honestly, I hate the song and it slows the action down for me...
OT: I would KILL to see Leslie Uggams as The Witch (I assume that's who she was)
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#13re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 9:41amIndeed she was! (and one of her daughters was a stepsister)
#14re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:15pm
Here is a photo of Our Little World from the beautiful production of Into the Woods I saw at the Stratford Festival last year or the year before.
#15re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 7/6/07 at 12:18pmWow Kyle! That's an awesome photo! Do you have anymore?
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#16re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 9:25pm
I dunno how I stumbled on this old thread by chance, but here are more pics from that stunning Stratford production on a web page for the designer (she';s from Montreal...) Dany Lyne
http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Lyne%2C%20Dany
#17re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 10:15pmWow, that production looks beautiful.
PiraguaGuy2
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#18re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 10:17pmWhat an interesting, beautiful production.
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#19re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:10pm...wow, that design (set and costume) is so bizzare. It is gorgeous, but it's jarring for me since I have the original production carved into my memory. Big kudos for them for doing something completely original though, looks like they pulled it off!
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"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
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#20re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:28pmOh I'm definetly a traditonalist with these things and love the original designs but as an alternative I agree it's pretty striking.
#21re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:40pm
"I went in thinking Wolpe would be WAY too old to be the Baker, but actually, it kinda made sense to have an older Baker, which makes the whole being childless thing a little more poignant. I was thinking they used the song, too."
It makes sense emotionally, but not when you think about the fact that Rapunzel is supposed to be a teenager and the Baker was supposed to have been "no more than a babe" when the events recounted by the Witch occurred. The Baker should probably be around 18 given Rapunzel's age (increased to 16-17 in the revival), but that doesn't make any sense either. It's one of those plot holes.
#22re: Into the Woods question: 'Our Little World'
Posted: 2/24/09 at 6:00pm
"It's one of those plot holes."
The bit where Little Red Riding Hood slices open the wolf and retrieves Granny alive from inside his stomach is another. 
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