I didn't see either production of Into the Woods, but I have both cast recordings. Theyr'e both really talented, but I wabnt to know if one is preferred over the other.
Well, when I saw the revival, Laura Benanti at the beginning of act 2 completely broke character laughing and couldn't sing - because someone messed up a line.............
Kim Crosby bugged the hell out of me. She was me least favorite on the dvd. I thought Laura was amazing but maybe that's because I saw her live. I thoguht there were so many other stuggling actors who could have sung it better then Kim. Kathy Voytko should be the witch if they revive it again. She's amazing.
I liked Kim Crosby's performance on the DVD, but Benanti live was spectacular. She was the best part of an otherwise limp production, and deserved the Tony. Jacqueline Dankworth sounds terrific on the London recording, as well.
People generally probably shouldn't comment unless they saw both live...it's more fair that way. Of course since most people here were born the year before it came out, that will be kinda hard. I wouldnt be able to remember Kim even if I did see her live.
Having seen both the original and revival casts on Broadway several times, in addition to having seen the original tour several times, no one has ever been better as Cinderella than Crosby in my opinion. She had such warmth and her Cinderella grew up so movingly each time I saw her. Even better was her comic timing. One performance was a great day for the entire cast. Crosby and Gleason got huge laughs in Very Nice Prince. I've never seen anyone take such amazing pratfalls as Crosby did that day (not even Crosby at other performances). On one of her pratfalls she slid to the edge of the stage, her legs fell over the edge into the pit, she lay there, started to swing her legs and then when Gleason said "you take a lot of spills don't you" I thought the laughs would take the theater down.
Benanti was beautiful and sang the role impressively. I found her cold though. I did like her more in WOODS than in NINE.