The Wonder that is "Into The Woods" — Page 4

Blue Wizard... how is it one so young has such tremendous insight? Of course you are right. Act II is where the heart of the show can be found. (Same with SUNDAY IN THE PARK) Without ACT II, the first act becomes just an extended stunt. Those who dearly love the show, love it because the 2nd act gives you something to care about. And that is why WOODS is a show more rewarding and enjoyable on subsequent viewings but a little hard to get through the very first time.

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That's not even why I like Act II. Without Act II, the first act (and the entire musical) has no meaning.

INTO THE WOODS is about facing the consequences of your actions and the strength of Community. In Act I, the characters blindly seek out to fulfill their own wishes -- their stories weave in and out of each other, but each person is governed by their selfish motives. They seem to get what they wish, but Act II reveals that the world is not as simple as that. Note how the vast majority of the songs are set up as lessons: each character has something to learn. In the end, the biggest lesson they must learn is that their actions, no matter how small and whether intentional or not, have consequences on everyone else. Tbest way to face the reality of life is to band together as a community and think about each other, as the four remaining characters do.

Everything seems so black and white in the first act, but in Act II you discover this is not so. Is the lady giant bad? Jack stole from her house and killed her husband. The most poignant moment in the play for me is "No One Is Alone," when the Baker tells Jack not to take revenge on the steward for killing his mother, while Little Red is torn about helping to take out the giant. "Witches can be right, giants can be good: you decide what's right, you decide what's good." Decisions are more difficult than they seemed in the first act. It's in Act II that the characters learn that maybe it isn't good "to stray, Or tempt the wolf, or steal from the giant," and where they learn the true complexity of life: "the way is dark, the light is dim."

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Updated On: 3/30/05 at 11:10 PM

Sorry to bump this thread up, but I wasn't completely satisfied with my own explanation of what I feel is the meaning of INTO THE WOODS. So I think Sondheim wrote it best:

Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take,
Wishes come true,
Not free.
Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you can see
And turn against you...

Careful the tale you tell.
That is the spell.
Children will listen..

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The original OCR is still the best, nicely condensed to a 70 minute CD. I have tried repeatedly to find something about the London cast disc but have never warmed to any of the performers. My 2nd choice would be the 2002 Revival cast but I did enjoy that production more in the theatre. Somehow it didn't translate as well to a recording. And rarely does a revival cast top the original.

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I am speaking specifically towards "Urban" and "munkustrap178".

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."

pretty white bread bland

Kerry O'Malley was none of these things. She was by far my favorite Baker's Wife and many others. People were always complimenting her and Stephen DeRosa on the chemistry they had on stage and off stage since they became such good friend. With the revival came a younger cast. A younger cast means different perceptions. If I hear one more person say "Laura Benanti was better than Kim Crosby by far!" or anything to that effect, I will scream. No one is better than the other. Here's a lesson in acting. There are different actors who take on different perceptions with roles. Do you understand that? I hope you do. Now with that in mind, Kim Crosby played the role nerdy and insecure. She wasn't THE Cinderella just as Kristin Chenoweth isn't THE Glinda. Actors come and go and there is only one role and they bring different perceptions and input into them. Just because Laura Benanti wasn't nerdy or more humble as Cinderella doesn't mean she sucked because she didn't. Laura brought assertion and beauty to the role. She brought a big brassy voice. She brought a reincarnation when it came to Act II.

As for Kerry O'Malley, do you remember what I just said? I hope to God you do. The OBC cast was older. Joanna Gleason played the role as an older, middle aged woman. Kerry O'Malley played the role off more as a woman in her late 20's, early 30's. This is so clear when she says "What was THAT!" and the chemistry between her and Laura Benanti. "Oooooo the prince must have reaaaaaaaally taken a liking to youuuuuuu! Hahaha." Two young women sharing a sexual innuendo and giggling like school girls. You're telling me that was bland? Are you telling me when Kerry was in tears at the end singing "No One is Alone", that was bland too? Kerry was firey and spirited and she skipped the hell out of that skip. She was determined, she was loud, HELL SHE WAS IRISH!

People have different opinions and different favorites, but please. Learn that no one is better than someone else when it comes to role. Yes, someone can suck and you can say they suck and they probably do by majority. But when it comes comparing the OBC to the REVIVAL, with both casts filled with extraordinarly talented people, it's very ignorant of you to say one is better than the other. They're both equally good, but different takes on the role! Now if you're gonna talk about Vanessa, that's another story... :)

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