REDWOOD Reviews- Page 4

[hayden6]

Posted: 2/26/25 at 11:23pm

CurtainPullDowner said: "Did someone get hurt or not?"

No understudies on at tonight’s performance!

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 3/8/25 at 5:28pm

After SpongeBob SquarePants, Redwood is the second Tina Landau directed musical I was kind of shocked how much I liked it. The immersive spectacle aspect of the show, isn't an obvious fit given the subject matter of grief, but was genuinely impressive. I also think it's commendable Menzel focused on a project so physically demanding and commercially risky when doing a revival would probably be easier money.   

Some additional thoughts: 

#1. When it comes to Broadway songs about people in trees, Sondheim did more for the genre in 7 minutes than Redwood does devoting nearly 2 hours to the topic. There are way too many songs in the Defying Gravity/Let It Go belting power ballad mode, and while it's what Menzel is best known for, it gets very musically repetitive. I often think the songs featuring Michael Park and Khaila Wilcoxon sounded better, in part because they broke up the monotony. 

#2. With a lot of great singers, they make singing look effortless. With Menzel, and I've seen her live a couple of times, it's often impressive but she makes hitting the right note seem like a lot of work. This role would be a huge challenge to do 8 times a week even if there wasn't any singing. 

#3. Between the main cast and standbys, 4 of the actors appeared in Dear Evan Hansen, another show largely about coping with grief. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 3/9/25 at 2:49pm

‘Redwood’ Soars: Idina Menzel Leads a Breathtaking, Heart-Stirring Broadway Triumph The title character of Redwood is nothing short of majestic—a towering Northern California tree that becomes a breathtaking centerpiece of both the story and the production itself.

Onstage, the centuries-old redwood makes a grand entrance, an awe-inspiring marvel brought to life by the visionary set designer Jason Ardizzone-West. The sheer scale of this masterpiece allows Idina Menzel and her castmates to ascend its mighty branches with ropes and harnesses, creating a dazzling, gravity-defying spectacle that must be seen to be believed. And at the heart of it all?

Menzel, delivering a performance of raw, electrifying power. Under the masterful direction of Tina Landau, Redwood is a deeply moving meditation on grief, healing, and the ways nature reminds us of our own resilience. The book’s metaphors—rooted in the idea of growth, strength, and connection—are woven into the story, culminating in a breathtaking ascent as Jesse, once afraid to let go, literally and figuratively reaches new heights.

Menzel is luminous, delivering soaring vocals that shake the rafters and tender moments that leave the audience in hushed reverence. Opposite her, De’Adre Aziza as Jesse’s wife, Mel, brings depth and quiet heartbreak to a love tested by distance. Meanwhile, Michael Park as Finn, an endearing tree-climbing optimist, and the powerhouse Khaila Wilcoxon as the no-nonsense scientist Becca, ground the production with warmth and humor.

And the music! Composer Kate Diaz has crafted a score that is the weakest part of the show.

The aerial choreography, paired with Landau’s ethereal staging, turns the act of climbing into an emotional catharsis. As the cast spirals through the air, accompanied by lush orchestrations, the moment is nothing short of transformative. It’s the kind of theatrical magic that Broadway was made for. Redwood is not just a musical—it’s an experience. Visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and anchored by Menzel at the peak of her powers.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/9/25 at 2:53pm

John Hemphill has replaced the injured Bradley Dean as the standby for Finn.