The Public Theatre's Shakespeare/Park presents INTO THE WOODS -- Discussion- Page 21

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:22pm

SPOILER: Murph's dress is a lovely, flowey low cut sea-ish green gown. Kad; does the dress purposily get dirtier as Act II progresses? And I think she wears boots? I could be wrong about that.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:23pm

^ LOVE. IT. Thanks CurtainPullDowner!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:31pm

Wish we had more pics or something... I'll probably never see this. lol.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:46pm

I really don't think it's in the least bit acceptable for all of these professional actors like Denis O'Hare, etc., to be 'flubbing' lines, messing up lyrics, etc. I mean for Christ's sake, this is their job, even if it is previews. That is fundamental to their work. Flubbing lines/lyrics. Jesus, spare me!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 9:49pm

Just spare us instead.

[wicked1492]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 10:09pm

I think I saw boots... She can rock a boot, let me tell you.

*Minor Spoiler*
That green dress is GORGEOUS and flows with the wind at the most perfect moments, most notably during "Last Midnight" when she's holding the baby. Even if she IS singing the less desired lyrics...

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 11:18pm

I actually really like the wig on Amy Adams- maybe it's just the picture, but it makes her look a little older so she doesn't look so out of place next to Denis O'Hare.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 11:41pm

CPD-

I don't think Murphy's dress gets dirtier in Act II. The most that happens is that when she enters for the first time for the second act, she is wearing something over the dress that is covered in dirt, to make it look like she was thrown down into her garden.

She does, in fact, wear tall brown boots, at least for Act I. I can't recall if they're kept in the second act.


Again, what was the fuss about this dress? It's absolutely gorgeous and looks gorgeous on her. It's one of the best in the show.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 11:50pm

I agree with those who say Donna's dress in the wind was perfection. Michael Kors was there the other night; I bet he'd approve.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 11:53pm

The green dress is gorgeous and my fav costume of the piece. The rest is a very mixed bag. The Baker and Wife are kinda Fairytaleish, he's slightly more modern than her. Little Red is like a London girl in the 80's, nothing creative about it. Jack is period with rubber boots Act I and a blue velvet suit (Act II) I quess it's to show wealth. Jack's mom is wearing Harvey's old costume from HAIRSPRAY (Act I) and Mae Peterson's fur coat (Act II). The stepmother and sisters are the worst, ugly,(but not in a proper garish way) too short etc. The Princes are wearing some old suits that once actually belonged to PRINCE.(the Artist....)
Cinderella's Act I is a shortish blue plaid dress that shows off too much leg and she has bird tatoos on her thighs. Her prom dress is light purple too short in front, long in back, hardish to manage on the stairs. Mysterious Man looks like a bum in Central Park. All in all, they don't make any statement to me just a mis-match. some have said it's how the kid would imagine them WTF? Kids grow up with picture books and films where the Fairy Tale characters look like peasants and kings, queens, withches from those books, why would he picture Little Red as a Punk Star? That makes no sense. If the costumes were closer to Donna's Denis' and Amy's that would make sense. They don't have to be traditional but they should be in the same story.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/26/12 at 11:56pm

I like Jack's Mother's act 2 costume. With her tacky dress, giant fur coat, and martini glass in hand- it's a funny visual.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:00am

Ray, when I saw it in London they used the revival lyrics for the beginning of Last Midnight (just the part to the baby) and then used the original ending. It was my favorite "Last Midnight" lyrically. Is this not true for this production?

[Kad]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:06am

This production uses the same combo. The "You're so nice..." section is replaced with "You're so pure...", and then it goes back to the original lyrics from "I'm the hitch..." onward.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:08am

Jewishboy, yes, but she ended with "Mother here I come" instead of "crunch!"

CPD, agreed about the costumes. They threw me off, and you're probably right, it's because they're not cohesive. What bothered me was that Little Red's red item of clothing is neither a cape nor a cloak, which is what they call it in the show. Would that jacket really make the spell work?

My sister said Cinderella's transformation is akin to "She's All That" (remove glasses, add mullet dress, voila). Updated On: 7/27/12 at 12:08 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:24am

Hey, Mr M, is mullet dress a real style name? So funny and true, short in front and sides and butt ugly. It is the most unflattering look they could put on Mueller, they need to cover her legs and feature her pretty face, which is not really hidden by a babushka and glasses (again, so typical).
And the Wolf looks like a WWF contestant, (not a bad look).

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:25am

Also, now that I'm into this thread, "Stay With Me" has always been my favorite Witch song (and I think it's my favorite song to hear Bernadette's vocal range). I know there has only been two performances, but how is Donna's interpretation so far? Thanks!

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 1:02am

Wonderful. Donna Murphy I know was in the running to be the witch in the original production and 25 years later she's still perfect for the role.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 1:54am

I think it sits better in Bernadette's voice, but Donna sounds fine. It's in a weird break in her voice, but she gets through it. I agree, it's a gorgeous song.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 1:59am

I really think Donna should use all of Vanessa's keys. I love Donna, but she's had some vocal issues in recent years, especially pitch issues.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 2:11am

Her lower register is great and more reliable. I agree, she might sound stronger in Vanessa's keys. She sings "Children Will Listen" in Vanessa's key. I forget about "Lament," but it wasn't Bernadette's key.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 2:41am

All of da Murph's songs are the highlights of this production, whatever hell key she's sing them in. I know the score pretty well and none of her keys were blaring out of place in the entire score. It is a shame she's not doing OUR LITTLE WORLD (sic) but the first act is chock full of great music and another might bog it down.
At intermission the woman behind me said "for a musical it doesn't have much music, does it?"
As I was slapping her silly, she screamed "I mean, SONGS! SONGS!"
tHAT'S HALF TRUE.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 7:43am

I was looking forward to Our Little World, but I wouldn't be surprised if they cut it solely for time. Over three hours as it is!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 11:41am

I just watched the video of the Regents Park production and it took a while for me to adjust to the somewhat hackneyed concept, but I did enjoy it. I thought the boy as narrator was going to annoy me, but it didn’t so much. More than anything, the costuming sort of threw me off. I thought it was weird that some of the characters had contemporary costumes, but others were more traditional and if it’s all in the boy’s mind, are we supposed to believe he imagines Cinderella with a nose ring and headphones? I understood the contemporary touches and how they associated with the characters, but there was a real disconnect with the device of the boy as narrator and the costuming was just generally inconsistent. I think a young boy imaging fairy tale characters with a contemporary edge and a mix of period stylings is way too much of a stretch. Pick one concept or the other, but layering them just wasn’t cohesive or logical. I didn’t hate it, but I couldn’t buy it, either. I hope the new costumes make a bit more sense.

As for the sexualization of Little Red (and Jack), I thought it was handled rather brilliantly, especially in the direction and costuming. What kept it from being completely inappropriate was the casting of Little Red. It was very tongue-in-cheek that she was so blatantly neither “little” nor a “girl”. And her change in character after I Know Things Now made so much more sense than compared to any other production I’d seen. BUT…I feel liked it worked so well because it was a British production. The UK and Europe are far more sexually aware at an earlier age than Americans and less sexually conservative in their popular entertainment. So, if the casting were not so obviously ironic in the new production, I can see why this would ruffle a lot of feathers with American audiences, especially those familiar with the material and expecting it to be less PG-13.

My biggest criticism with the Regents Park production is the comedy. It’s just so bland and so many missed opportunities. Little Red was the highlight of the entire piece. And I agree that the opening was over choreographed. The problem is, they are introducing many characters, yet there is a surplus of people on stage dancing about and you have no idea who they are or why they are participating. Adding ANYTHING to that very long and complex opening is just gilding the lily. If the characters haven’t been introduced in the opening, either have them sing off-stage or make it OBVIOUS through the costuming and staging why and how they are part of the stories.

And Eric, the Mary Poppins Supercalietc choreography was the first thing I thought of as well.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 12:22pm

The costumes are totally different to the London one's. The Baker and his wife are no longer Germanic or Fairy-Taley which they were in the original production and the Regent's Park version... They actually look like 1930s Brooklyn habitants. Real shame about Amy's hair though, I mean who looked at that and said 'oh yeah that works.' I mean, a simple modest hairstyle would've worked, like Jenna Russell's was in the London production. Murphy looks great and her color is brown as opposed to Hannah Waddingham's green themed costume in London. Denis O'Hare looks really old IMO, he looks like Adams' father in the NY Times picture.

Also, question: How do they propose to do this if it transfers to Broadway - will they cover the stage in leaves and damp moss, and have the two-level set, or will they re-imagine it for a proscenium arch staging?

[joanntom]

Posted: 7/27/12 at 6:27pm

We were sitting about 4 rows from the back on Weds. I must say other than a few low flying planes and dragon flies it was a lovely evening. But, it was 2nd preview. Regardless that they are all professionals, it will get there, in there groove as one would say.
Ive seen the last 2 NY productions and I really believe that this production has a good shot.
Faves:
Narrator/ concept--it works.. just needs to be fleshed out

Little Red/ Wolf--its great, its hot, its wrong.. just as we hoped it would be and Sarah Stiles journey really works. This is the first time that im not routing for the giant to stomp out Little Red

Witch/ Donna Murphy really gets the lyrics and works it so well.

Rapunzel-Great act 2. Its Carrie Fisher meets a crack head. and the babies..<> morbid at its best
Princes-- great, and yet they don't push. One night stand bros
The harp--come on... its clever
Jacks Mother- its such a gross role to begin with. i like this take
Ensemble--Works really well. The woods are alive with sounds of Sondheim

Amy Adams- I truly believe that with this medium she is working every minute and i'd like to revisit (not the wait in the park) in a few weeks..

Of course, with another week of tech, they would be spectacular , but for those of us , who like to peak and see where everyones at, i had an enjoyable time. Except i will bring a sack of flour or a cushion for the seats



Updated On: 7/27/12 at 06:27 PM