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The Wonder that is "Into The Woods"

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#1

The Wonder that is "Into The Woods"

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:15pm

I'm sorry...I know this has been posted about a great deal. But, I just finished watching my video of the original Broadway production of "Into The Woods" and it brought back such wonderful memories of the revival. I thoroughly enjoyed the revival, although it goes without saying that the original Broadway production can never be topped. It's such a wonderful show with a beautiful message. I personally think it's Sondheim's greatest score. I'm very upset that certain parts of the score weren't captured on the OBCR. I really enjoyed Ben Wright as Jack...his performance is definitely superior to that of Adam Wylie. I think both the original and revival had their strong points. For instance, I like Gregg Edelman's prince and Laura Benanti's Cinderella better than that of the original Robert Westenberg and Kim Crosby (who were both still good). But, I also believe Joanna Gleason's TONY winning performance as the Baker's Wife is far superior to that of Kerry O'Malley (who was also good, just not as good as Joanna). And, from previous posts, it goes without saying that I LOVE Bernadette Peters and her performance in "Into The Woods" is no exception...it is a top notch performance and I am very surprised she was not nominated for it. I guess the purpose of this thread it to just celebrate the show and get all of your opinions on who you thought was better in each production. "Into The Woods" is, without a doubt, one of my favorite musicals of all time.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#2

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:22pm

BIGGEST OBC INTO THE WOODS FAN RIGHT HERE!!!

Let the festivating begin!!!

And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before... After the Sky. -Into the Woods (Jack)

#3

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:25pm

This is one of my favorite shows - I used to watch the movie every day when I was like 10 years old. I was obsessed with it. However, I thought every bit of the revival was dreadful, except for Benanti.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#4

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:37pm

Although i never saw the revival, I could never imagine anyone being better than Kim Crosby as Cinderella. Not only was she beautiful, but, she had the clumsy thing down very well. To me, she was everything Cinderella should be, including the great voice. I had a chance to see the revival, but skipped out on it. I don't think I regret missing it, because I've heard more negative things about it than good.

"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

#5

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:41pm

casting question- why does cinderella's prince always play the wolf (save the revival when both princes did)?

"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel

#6

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:41pm

You missed nothing, and you're right - Benanti didn't even come close to Crosby.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#7

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:43pm

I really enjoyed Ben Wright as Jack...

absolutely loved him too

the only thing I don't agree with... is that I didn't think the baker's wife was a Tony award winning role. It wasn't really that exciting for me...

NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#8

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:45pm

I love Into the Woods as well. Although, it is one of those shows that is still bittersweet for me, as I was the runner up for the role of Jack in my HS production-- and it still hurts!

Does anyone else have that kind of bittersweet connection with a show that didn't entirely go your way?

#9

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:45pm

Are you kidding? Had you seen Kerry O'Malley in the role, you would have seen just how boring, wrong, and bland the role can be. Joanna Gleason was absolutely brilliant and perfect in every way...I've never heard anyone say that before.....

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#10

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:50pm

Into the Woods is amazing.

#11

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:53pm

I did think that Joanna was amazing, but I didn't really like the character. I didn't connect with it, and to me... the character was just a weird role for anyone to portray. I never said anything against Joanna, and I never would. She is amazing, but I didn't like the role of the baker's wife

NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#12

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:54pm

I can't imagine ANYONE being half as perfect and fantastic as Gleason was.

There are a lot of similarities between the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince that connect the two. They both represent sexual desire in men (Wolf = animal lust, Prince = lust in human male). The wolf demonstrates this in "Hello, Little Girl", which is the seduction of Little Red. Cinderella's Prince has "Any Moment" where he convinces the Baker's Wife to cheat on her husband and sleep with him. The both share a lyric "Just one would be so boring". The Wolf and Cinderella's Prince should always be played by the same actor, or you lose this connection.

Updated On: 3/3/05 at 05:54 PM

#13

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:54pm

Beware of princes who are brought up to be charming but not sincere.

'Try not to have a good time...this is supposed to be educational.' - Lucy Van Pelt

#14

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:56pm

I think Joanna is brilliant in the DVD. I'm so stoked to see her in DRS in 13 days!

I agree with those who think Kim Crosby was great. I thought she was wonderful and think it'd be hard to find a woman as good as her for Cinderella.

www.christopherviolett.com

#15

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 5:57pm

I do really enjoy Kim Crosby...that's a given...I don't know why, but I'm just partial to Laura Benanti. Her voice is so entrancing.

And let's not forget DAME Judi Dench as the Giant. I love it!

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

Updated On: 3/3/05 at 05:57 PM

#16

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:02pm

This might be my favorite show. It's incredible - teh lyrics, the book, the visuals, the message...it's so thought provoking, but also witty. A great ensemble show too, all the roles are great! If anyone hasn't seen the OBC on DVD/Tape, they should. Its available at Amazon and is aboslutely amazing! LOVE ITW!

Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on." - from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

#17

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 6:18pm

I think one of the reason's that the revival wasn't as good as it could have been was because Lapine directed both productions. I think, in order for a show to be restaged and shown in a new light, you need a brand new production team.

I will always love this show just because it's one of those shows I can see over and over again and never get tired of.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#18

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:25pm

The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.
I sort of hate to ask it,
But do you have a basket?

simply amazing......I could watch this over, and over, and over

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#19

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:34pm

Possible subtext I discovered:

In the script, when Mysterious Man is talking to Jack in Act 1, Jack mentions his mother, and the Man reacts in displeasure. Later, when he sees Jack's Mother coming, he runs and hides.

We know Jack's father ran off at some earlier point in time. Could the Mysterious Man also be Jack's father? Are Jack and the Baker half brothers?

#20

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:35pm

jonartdesigns--To answer your question. The prince is "a wolf in sheeps clothing." He looks and acts all noble and righteous but he sleeps with the baker's wife and cares for no one but himself.

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

#21

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:39pm

I didn't like the sleeping with the baker's wife... I thought it was unecessary... and it was right before she dies, so it is the clearest thing in your mind about her. I think it's sad that the baker doesn't know that his wife cheated on him right before she died, and she wasn't even thinking about him at all.

NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."

RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.

#22

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:43pm

It surprises me that we haven't seen Ben Wright do more on Broadway than "Into The Woods" and "State Fair." He is truly a talent. What a voice he has! It's so pure but it's got oomph behind it! And...:blushes:...he's quite the looker too, well, back in the 80s anyway.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#23

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 7:49pm

I see what yo're saying, kangraoo, but without the Baker's Wife and the Prince you lose some of the "Seize the Day" moments, and also one of the greatest songs!!! Moments in the Woods is inspired by that symbol of seemingly impossible happiness, and the Wife will treasure that.

Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on." - from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

#24

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:27pm

LoveloveLOVE this show. I'm in rehearsals for it right now as Jack's Mother. Definitely one of my absolute FAVORITES.

And I just want to add in my adoration for Ben Wright.

Come back to Broadway!

#25

re: The Wonder that is 'Into The Woods'

Posted: 3/3/05 at 9:35pm

I loved Into The Woods, and I still do, but I rented the video a few weeks ago (after not having seen it for about 2 years) and I guess I had set my standards very high for it. I remembered it being just INCREDIBLE-AHH-NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS! And then I watched it and was a little dissappointed. Me and my silly standards. (Or for you grammar nuts, my silly standards and I.)

Has anyone heard "Into The Words"?

The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.
I sort of hate to ask it,
But do you have a basket?

Just reminded me of:

I sort of hate to ask it,
But what's a rhyme for basket?

"If it walks like a Parks, if it wobbles like a Parks, then it's definitely fat and nobody loves it." --MA

Updated On: 3/3/05 at 09:35 PM

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