The Witch's Fate- Into the Woods

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:51am

I wonder if someone could explain what the meaning of the Witch's fate in Into the Woods. I understand (at least in the revival) that she went down in a flurry of smoke after "The Last Midnight." What "happened" to her and what was the significance?

I don't know the finer points of the show well, and am curious. :) Many thanks!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:05am

She tosses the rest of her mother's cursed beans, elevating the curse to such an immediate level it destroys her. At least that's how I always interpreted it. Its a form of suicide not vaporizing so she can go to Disneyland or something.

Although I'm not sure what was going on in that last Broaday revival - she sort of turned into one of those aliens from V and flew to the rafters. Maybe she was going to Epcot afterall, who knows.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:06am

Well I don't think the witch's disapperance has much of a significance as it is done differently in most productions of it. At my high school, we had an effect of the witch flying into the air at the end of the song (which didnt work most of the times). The witch's disappearance is done merely for the effect I believe.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:12am

I read the children's book based on the show and it explains that the witch went back to her old ugly self (post-curse, as her beauty was apparently her former state.) In "The Last Midnight" she say calls out to her mother to take her away from people. Also, she never seemed happy after she got her beauty restored at the end of ACT I, since she lost Rapunzel in the process.

[rosekwbp]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:51am

Is the children's book called Into The Woods?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:52am

There was a book written after the musical opened on Brodway that was an extended pencil illustrated children's novelization of the play.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:57am

I agree, MB - the revival was just bizzare in that respect.

"Mother, here I COME!"

I was like, WHAT?

[Kungaloosh1937]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:18am

:The witch's disappearance is done merely for the effect I believe.:

Yes, because Sondheim is ALL about flashy effects.

Clearly there is no deeper meaning.

[Overthewall]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:28am

I guess I'm stupid or something. I've seen the video of the original and love how Bernie disappears. And I saw the revival in previews. I remember the witch disappearing through a trap door with a spiral lighting effect. Was that changed before it opened? I never saw any witch fly in this production.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:51am

Yes, rosekwbp, the book is called INTO THE WOODS. You should check it out. I'm not a prude, but there is an illustration of Jack lounging in the Giatness' cleavage and another of Rapunzel in her tower, fully nude but for her long hair. Somehow I found them unsuitable and unnecessary, even if Jack does sing about resting in the Giantess' "giant breast."

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:07am

OK...call me crazy, but this is how I interpret it.

The witch is always the voice of reason in the show (ie "witches can be right/giants can be good") except when dealing with her own daughter.

She is so upset with the rest of the characters during "Your Fault" that they can't be reasonable and see that they are all to blame that she curses herself by scattering her mother's magic beans simply so she can get away from the chaos that all the characters have created, leaving the rest of them to stumble on without a resonable person to guide them.

So yeah, the moment is TOTALLY done for effect

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:03am

Oh for the revival i saw it as her entering hell with her dead mother....hence "Mother here i come!".... she talks about going the world that she is from....

I thought it was cool when she ripped her skin and her hair out...

[Jon]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:34am

The children's book is long out-of-print and very hard to find.

[DiamondGirl]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:12am

This is news to me. I've only seen a local production of ITW, and the witch just walked offstage at the end of the number.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:18am

Probably because the stage wasn't equipped with a trap door/elevator.

[dancersmom2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:30am

I'm not sure if this is the book mentioned above, but I found it available on Amazon as well as several copies on eBay.
Into the Woods by Hudson Talbott

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:18pm

I always thought its because she 'losted' the beans again, so she's being punished by the curse her mom set up, so this time, instead for being ugly, she is punished to disappear. That's how I get it all the time.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:27pm

Yes, dancersmom2, that's the book. I found one through inter-library loan. By the way, your name reminds me of an episode of THE GOLDEN GIRLS.

DOROTHY:
I look like the mother of a Solid Gold Dancer!

[Matters]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:25pm

Could someone explain in detail about how the witch disappeared in the revival? I've always been curious since in the CD Booklet it says somthing to the effect of her eating the beans and turning ugly again. Thanks!

Oh, and I think the witch gets fed up with everyone and either goes elsewhere or kills herself (yeah, I stated the obvious) but then again she could've decided to take up aircraft flying to become one of the first female pilots in the kingdom. At least, thats how it was done at Stratford ON. I'm not here to judge.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 8:26pm

Did you guys read the reviews that are on the amazon link this one was my favorite,

"The play "Into the Woods" not only contains sinister elements, but has an overall dark message to convey. It preaches moral relativism as blatantly as any catechism teaches religious doctrine. It teaches is that lying, stealing, cheating, and even murder can be justified as long as it is not against one's perspective on life. Also, that life is grim and experiencing things forbidden will help you. This religious doctrine of corruption is conveyed through the story and through specific lyrics of the songs."

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:58pm

Matters, The Witch in the reveal ate the beans during Last Midnight and then became ugly again. First, she removed a sleeve on her dress to reveal a wrinkled, deformed arm. And then she tore off her curly hair [wig] and had short, gross, white hair underneath. At the end of the song, she spiraled down a trap door.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:06pm

My theatre teacher told us that she went to hell (with her mother). At least, that's how she interpreted it. I'm inclined to agree. She basically sold her soul.

[beyondthebreakofday]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:32pm

I recently went to see a local production with a friend who doesn't know the show very well. Their set included a platform about 3 feet off the ground with stairs both in the front and in the back and so after the witch sang her song she kind of jumped/fell/walked down the back stairs. My friend asked me if she had killed herself and at the time I chuckled about it. Now that I think about it, though, it does make sense.

[Matters]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:11pm

Thanks Quibbler!

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:36pm

Wow I'm suprised how shallow some people's analysis of this moment is. There is so much more than "the witch randomly disappeared because Sondheim is all about spectacle." Bennett had it right from the top, though in analysis there can be a deep meaning regarding social responsibilities that accompanies this.