The Public Theatre's Shakespeare/Park presents INTO THE WOODS -- Discussion- Page 31

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 8:35pm

Great review Whizzer. It seems most people have issue with the costumes. While the UK version had weird costumes, and not everyone was a fan, it seems like everyone who has seen even images of both prefered those, so it seems doubly odd that they redesigned them. Are the new costumes done by someone who regularly works with The Public?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 8:36pm

"As of last night, they brought in the chorus to sing a line of the "What do you say to a child..." section, which was previously a solo for the Witch.

That's odd. I hope they keep it as a solo for the Witch. "

It doesn't bother me so much, since at that point the characters are addressing the audience with their final "morals"--I think, as lovely as it was, when all of that was in Second Midnight way back at LaJolla--in the middle of Act I--it did seem odd and slow everything down (at least judging from audios...)

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 8:44pm

The costumes were done by Emily Rebholz, whose only other credit at the Public is Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 8:59pm

It doesn't bother me so much, since at that point the characters are addressing the audience with their final "morals"

I do agree, but, the Witch's desire to be a mother is a MAJOR part of this production. MAJOR.
It was really touching to watch her sing those lyrics, as we see the father and son 'reunite.' It made sense for her to sing it alone.

Updated On: 8/3/12 at 08:59 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 9:10pm

OK, I think I was confused. Initially she sang that part alone in this production? I was thinking, I guess, of them including that part at all, or simply not, as in the original production. I do see your point.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 9:17pm

Yup, Donna was singing the Witch's original CHILDREN WILL LISTEN solo and the new section by herself, and then the chorus joined her, like they normally do. But now it sounds like the chorus is joining her on the new section?

[dtzumbrunnen]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 10:10pm

E. Davis, I almost shot wine out my nose listening to that Murphy clip!!! SATISFACTION!

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 11:10pm

There are very crisp, and clear pictures of Donna in her green dress if you search #Donna Murphy on tumblr. I didn't post them because they might be illegal, I also don't want to spoil the witch's transformation for anyone.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 11:16pm

That costume is stunning.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 11:26pm

I cannot find the good pictures of the green dress. In all the pictures it just looks like a green sundress that has an overlaid skirt. If these are the same pictures that are on tumblr I do not care for her post transformation makeup, they eyebrows make her look like a drag queen.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/3/12 at 11:27pm

I saw this one picture on Tumblr that shows the green dress, and it was stunning. The picture also showed the back of Little Red with the shorts and all, and that was...

[Kad]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 1:49am

The "Children Will Listen" section is back to a solo with the ensemble coming in where they regularly would.

The show is now frozen for press week. A great deal of the grievances aired by people in this thread have been addressed, aside from costuming.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 2:04am

Thanks for the info, Kad. I really wish I could get back there to see the final product, but doesn't seem likely. I hope the critics will be kind. Really want to see this on Broadway.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 2:07am

...and the child narrator? The concept didn't completely gel with me, and I can't imagine the direction of these bits have been clarified if it's the conceit of the production. Has the staging and choreography calmed down at all or edited? It seemed quite manic in moments where less would be more.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 4:06am

Completely gel seems a vast understatement from what you've said before...

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 10:25am

Seeing it Tuesday. Wonder if anyone can comment on why the costumes are reportedly - and look in photos - to be so ragtag. What is the concept? It seems obvious that part of the fantasy of the fairy tale is the opulence and, alternatively, folky charm of the royals and simpler folk. ITW of course is a deconstruction of fairy tale aspirations and fantasies, but wouldn't it make more impact to have the costumes reveal this later in the show. It appears that the corruption of our fairy tale assumptions about costumes happens from the get go in this production. And the same goes for Adams's hair, although I understand it's less messy than the stills might suggest.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 5:15pm

With the Regent's Park one, the concept I gathered was the narrator/kid is meant to have a fairly urban/modern life--maybe even the "seamier" side of life, so the costumes appropriate things he would have seen and sorta jumble them together. Haven't seen enough of the new costumes to say if that's the same thought process, but...

[wicked1492]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 5:53pm

I didn't think that the London production's costumes COMPLETELY meshed, but they were all founded in (sort of) the same concept, color scheme/tone. The ones here in Central Park, however, are a free-for-all, jumbled mess.

With the London production, I think they were going for more of a punk/steam-punk, updated look. I think with The Public production, they wanted something slightly similar, leaning more towards a hipster style, but it was obviously not accomplished or beneficial to the story being told.

Other than Donna's Act II costume, there wasn't a single costume that wowed me on its own, and then all together none of them really make sense as a unit.

It's been talked about as being more ensemble heavy and having the whole cast working together every moment of the show (and it is, and they do), but the costumes sure don't reflect that.

Upon the move to Broadway, the creative team needs to have a nice long talk about the vision, concept and message that they want to send. If they want the design aspects of the show to meet the ensemble work of the cast, all sides of the team need to meet in the middle somehow and create a cohesive, comprehensible overall design.

Updated On: 8/4/12 at 05:53 PM

[gstrus2]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 7:48pm

I have a general Shakespeare in the Park question. I am going to enter tomorrow, but it is supposed to rain tomorrow. If I enter and it rains and the show gets canceled, is there a way to get new tickets for another night? I know the policy is no new tickets, but is there some way to get new ones? Also, if I cant get new ones, and It gets canceled, will it effect my chances of winning another day??

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 7:51pm

No. You can only get a new ticket if you donated. That's not even *guaranteed* - though they were wonderful with offering me a new ticket when the first preview was cancelled.

Updated On: 8/4/12 at 07:51 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 7:54pm

After reading about the concept and what people see on stage, it sounds like they are trying to do what the ABC show ONCE UPON A TIME does... is that the same here? The Narrator has seen or knows of a girl with a nosering or something and she is similar to Cinderella/Mother (Baker's Wife) died and baby is left with Dad (Baker) who he eventually runs away from at rise in the show, etc. Am I making any sense? lol. Almost like are we supposed to assume the Narrator is paralleling his life and people around him to his favorite storybook characters?

[gstrus2]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 8:02pm

Do you think I should go tomorrow? Weather Channel Lists "Scattered Strong Storms" with 40% Precipitation Chance from 7pm-12am. Should I even try??? I am really debating, because since it might rain, people might not be so eager to try to go. But, it does cost me $30 to get there and back. UGH.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 8:24pm

That's been a general evening weather report for about 50% of the scheduled performances, and most have gone on. I remember when PIRATES was running with Kline, Ronstadt, Smith and the great Patricia Routledge (pre-Parsons on B'way), back in the day, perhaps the hottest ticket in the history of the festival, and the hysteria over the weather was incredible. I got in twice by showing up on rain-forecast days. And the show played. Of course I lived 4 blocks from there then.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 8:31pm

^ what I wouldn't do to see that show.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/4/12 at 8:44pm

I used to go over and "2nd act" PIRATES, at least aurally. With the amplification, you could hear much of the show nearby, and it was thrilling to listen to Rondstadt sing "Sorry Her Lot." And the great Tony Azito lead the charge. A great summer, a great theatrical thrill. And who knew at the time that Broadway beckoned? Everyone thought it would exit in August. I believe it was the first musical done by the NYSF, and that alone made it thrilling. But it became something special. As successful as it was on Broadway, it was always scaled for the Delacorte and remarkably intimate there.