Rapunzel in Into the Woods

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 1:57am

I'm looking some some feedback here. A colleague's daughter has been cast as Repunzel in an amateur production of Into the Woods.

We're doing the dramaturgy, which in this production is overkill, but would help her get a lead role in the future at this theatre.

What experience do you have seeing the Repunzel character in "Into the Woods" that doesn't come across as Mary Tyler Moore after one of her famously bad parties?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 2:18am

I'm not sure I understand the question, or the comparison to Mary Tyler Moore.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 2:19am

I'm confused...

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 2:20am

I'm guessing you're bringing up her constant crying in the second Act. But I don't understand how that relates to MTM.

And it's Rapunzel.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 2:26am

Enlighten us about MTM's parties...

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 6/27/09 at 2:29am

"I'm guessing you're bringing up her constant crying in the second Act"

Exactly! What suggestions do you have for a manic deppresive comic relief character? I bring up MTM because of the way the charater was portrtayed in the original Broadway production. The actress just exuded MTM in her scenes with the witch.

[Larcen26]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 2:51pm

The thing is that Rapunzel ISNT a comic relief character in the second act. In fact she is one of the more tragic ones.
She was a shut-in that goes slowly insane.
I never got this until I read the amazing storybook of Into the Woods that is out there, but she actually commits suicide by throwing herself beneath the giant instead of having her heart torn in two by her love for the prince and her mother.

She is only really funny in the second act when she cries at the end of Agony 2.

Frankly, I have always felt that her descent into madness is one of the more poignant themes in the show. It is a small part, but so much can be done with her.

[timesquare01]

Posted: 6/29/09 at 4:00pm

as far as getting laughs out of it, our Rapunzel was instructed to do less crying and more screaming. If the actress can't get real hysteria to the point of tears flowing and sobbing, it is gonna look fake and stupid. The comedy comes out of the complete loss of rationality while she's running around throwing fits. So whether she chooses to weep or to scream - she needs to be so committed to it and so over the top, and then the laughs will come.

Also in general. Her facial expressions are key. Each "Aaahhh.." she sings should mean as much to her as the other lines in the play do. I've seen Rapunzels that have a dead face the whole time and it's just not funny or interesting to watch.

And for her sake, I hope she gets to do Our Little World. Because it really is sucjh a fun song and a great chance for the Rapunzel to shine.