I saw it last night and really enjoyed it. The stand-out for me was Sarah Stiles as Little Red - she was FANTASTIC. A very different and successful take on the character. Donna Murphy was in top shape. Her 'Last Midnight' was breathtaking, and the end really caught me off guard. Very cool.
I thought Amy Adams was great. I was actually surprised at how good she sounded - a much fuller voice than I was expecting. She must have improved by leaps and bounds since the run started, as I heard nothing but vocal complaints. She sounded very strong. Her biggest problem was definitely some comedic timing - there were some jokes that didn't land. But I thought emotionally she was very moving, and I loved her 'Moments in the Woods'.
Denis O'Hare played it exactly the way I knew he would. It great really tiresome by the end, him being so... well, Denis O'Hare-y. I thought vocally he was serviceable, nothing awful. It made me wish him and Chip Zien could just switch roles. I don't care how old Chip is, I'd watch his baker any day.
The costumes are weird, but they didn't distract me. The way they do the beanstalk and the giant is so, so cool. Not expected.
I really liked the narrator as a child and I do think the concept works. If you were there last night, you probably could have heard me audibly weeping at the end.
All in all, it was a really lovely night. The weather was beautiful, and I was watching one of my favorite pieces of theater in central park under the moonlight. A Broadway transfer would be a huge mistake. This production belongs outside, the way it is.
Friday night, second to last show, understudy Noah Radcliffe went on as the narrator, and he was great, as was the entire cast. As a bonus, a blue moon rose over the trees and was God's follow spot during the second act. Magical night -- I couldn't imagine this production moving indoors.
I have searched and searched and no luck, can someone tell me how they did the bakers wife death? and how the wolf ate red? and also how they do the witch's transformation and what exit was everyone loving earlier in the thread???
The Baker's Wife climbed up to a raised perch (where Rapunzel was) and fell backwards out of it.
The Wolf scene really needs to be seen to be understood. Essentially, the cottage, bed, and wolf were created by the ensemble holding various props. When the Wolf ate Little Red, it happened behind a sheet that was held up- with either popping up at various times. It was extremely unsubtly invoking oral sex.
The Witch had her costume elements removed piece-by-piece by the ensemble, revealing her younger form and beautiful dress.
Her exit at the end of "Last Midnight" had her take center stage. From the ground, a figure emerged- presumably her mother- which grabbed her and yanked her into the earth.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."