NYT: This ‘Into the Woods’ Is Not That Deep. That’s What Makes It Great.

The Bridge Into the Woods thread seems to have disappeared. What???

Unless I missed something, there was never even anytime remotely objectionable in that thread. We did, however, lose a number of thoughtful reactions to the production.

Well, it's your fault ...

I really did not enjoy this. I actually bought tickets for a second performance a few weeks ago based upon early word and immediately returned them after last night’s performance.

The production images suggest something almost horrifying: this was quite generic and lacked any real concept. Worse still, the beautiful woods in the background of the stage were hardly used. Sadly, much of the staging was in the front of the stage and felt quite claustrophobic.

It doesn’t help matters that we had such a perfectly sung Into the Woods just a few years ago. No one came close to that caliber.

For all the crap Lear deBessonet for her staging, this was downright amateurish. I’d go so far as to say it’s a step above a very expensive regional production. I also didn’t understand certain overlay of vocals. I suppose it was to create a horrific effect but just came off churlish. For anyone who’s seen this, has this been done before, I’m surprised the Sondheim estate approved it if not.

For those who asked in the old thread, the transformation is not at all interesting nor is the ending of Last Midnight. For the former the witch basically runs off stage and the latter, “mother” appears and walks the witch off stage (one of the vocal overlays I mentioned).

To make matters worse, practically everyone sounded horse last night, perhaps from too many holiday performances in a row. Regardless, even if everyone was in perfect voice, vocally this was not an impressive cast, Dornford-May’s Cinderella being the only exception. She too though shat the bed a bit…that last note On The Steps of the Palace…oy vey.

Hopefully today should make up for last night: a two hander of All My Sons and Paddington (that’s a juxtaposition for you)!

Whenever people talk about changing perspectives or diminishing returns on either Into the Woods or The Princess Bride, I like to bring up the fact that we're living in a very different world in terms of ethnic culture. The central chunk of those two stories' ethos is the imposition of cultural American Jewishness into the extremely WASP world of the fairy tale canon.

We're a century from the shtetl and more than half a century from Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce. The neurotic, prevaricating, morose self-deprecation and love of analysis in Jewish humor and thought is no longer exotic, and I don't think audiences today recognize how much of a fairy tale trope deconstruction it was for the Baker and his Wife to be lovable, neurotic overthinkers.

Second time seeing this and the performances really have deepened. Everyone was in strong voice. I could have done without some of Katie Brayben's (Baker's Wife) borderline pop star belting in a few places, but many in the audience ate it up.

I think the costuming and production design work quite well though I can see how some other ITW afficionados might feel differently. While a more interesting witch transformation would have been nice, I think it would seem a bit out of place in this production.

My real take is just what a great night the Bridge Theatre offers so frequently. So much energy in the communal food and lounge space before and after, consistently great productions in a comfortable space, and a great location.

Grateful to be reminded of what a real gem this show will forever be in the Sondheim ouevre. The applause at the end of both acts was simply thunderous.