Why Does The Witch Die In "Into the Woods"?- Page 3

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:02pm

I respectfully disagree, RentBoy. Without the second act, none of the major themes of the musical would be fully expressed, the second act deconstructs the idea of happily ever after, it explains that all actions have consequences, and it completes the characters' journeys. It'd be too easy for both the writers and the audience to end the show with Act I, Act II is what makes the show so compelling, unique, and thought-provoking.
Also, it wouldn't make sense for the Witch to sing any part of "No One Is Alone," it'd be completely against her character, remember she's "not good, not nice, just right."

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 5:13pm

You've kinda hit the nail on the head Ray. The Witch expresses our own feelings towards the characters (Or at least mine). I get frustrated with them, no one making a decision, and the only lyric I did like was "I'm leaving you alone/squirming in the mess that you've made/fix it on your own/time for me to go, I'm afraid" because until then, they've relied on either the Narrator, the Baker's Wife, or the Witch. The other two are gone, so for the characters to finally grow, she has to take leave herself.
And, yes, while through most of the show it's just small puffs of smoke, to me it's an emotional build up. Most of the time the smoke is blown at minor annoyances, in this case it explodes from the ground, and she disappears into it, because she's had enough, with everyone. At least, that's what I thought.

[Danielm]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 6:44pm

I don't think "Children Will Listen" is actually part of the narrative line. The characters are not actually coming back to life they are summing up the moral of the show, like a fairy tale. It's a bit of theatrical presentation not a continuation of the story. The witch being beautiful again could be part of the theme, but not the story.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 6:48pm

I agree, I think the narration ends once the Baker starts narrating the story to his child. "Children Will Listen" is not a book number but more of a comment on the show itself.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 6:57pm

I think to much thought is being to it. She hates the and is pissed, so as a witch she summons all over remaining power to get the hell of there, and since it is on stage she magically disspears into the floor, I guess you could have her fly off, but that would raise even more questions, and having her just walk off just isn't that dramatic.

[bbabe24]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 7:11pm

I always thought that she loses her beauty, gets pissed at everyone, leaves, and THEN she gets stepped on by the giant. Why can't it be both?

[Danielm]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 7:22pm

I have never, in any production, seen her get stepped on by the giant.

[bbabe24]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 7:33pm

We don't actually SEE her get stepped on, but we HEAR a large crunch sound, which may lead us to assume that she gets flattened. It's like a metaphor for saying that you cannot run away from your problems. Isn't that a theme that is discussed in the play, like in the scene with the baker and his father, I think?

[Danielm]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 7:48pm

She sinks into the ground--disappears--she doesn't get stepped on.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 9:37pm

The only loud crunch, scriptually, after the death of the Baker's Wife, is when the Giant falls herself.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 3:41am

I think the "Children will Listen" comments were in reference to my last post. I didn't mean to imply that I thought any of the characters came back to life for the finale, or that it was part of the narrative. I was responding to someone else who said that because the witch is in the finale it must mean that she doesn't die, which is not the case.

And while you don't see her getting stepped on, she does sing the word "crunch", though I suppose it's left open to interpretation as to whether she's referring to leaving the others alone with the giant's crunching or she is actually being crunched.

How was the Baker's Wife being stepped on portrayed on Broadway?

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 4:04am

Last Midnight and the Witch's exit is actually one of my favorite points in the show, and I like it just the way it is in the original Broadway production.

I'm not sure what the writers intent regaurding the "crunch" line, but I guess I saw it more as a mention of theme (of how every one is dying), rather then "I'm standing over here getting 'crunched' by a giant foot. Just so ya'll know, k?".

I don't know, its been a long time since I saw the show, it was one of the very first I saw when I started to really know about theatre. I've just always found that song and then her frustrated exit, as is, to be an incredibly powerful moment and one of my favorites. Of all the roles out there, this one will always be special to me, mostly for that very exchange.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 9:58am

The Witch doesn't die. She simply goes back to her former state and leaves in dramatic fashion

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 11:13am

I can't vouch for the revival, but most productions, including the original, that I've seen have had a tree branch "Fall" on her. At least that's what I had assumed it to be.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 2:17pm

It's a diva song with a diva exit written specifically for my favorite diva, Ms.Bernadette Peters, that should be enough

I never ever thought she got stepped on by the giant.

[eb412]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 6:41pm

i always thought she got stepped on. atleast thats how i intereptreted the video of the obc. I never saw the revival and it seems that the script is open to direction and interepration. Im not exactly sure why (id have to watch it again) but i always thought it was the giant stepping on her. Maybe the way she screams or looks up. I dont think she lives though or goes back to the way she was (though clearly thats what they do in the revival). I thought she said the line about give me claws and a hunch just away from this bunch because she is even more miserable than before. It really doesnt make sense why she would want to be ugly again...it wouldnt solve anything. I think the line isnt literal she is just saying id give anything to get away. Its funny people always find the moment odd. Its never fazed me. I mean after a song like that what else can happen ahhah. I think the witch is almost the voice of reason in the show or atleast other than the narrator, the one looking at the characters situations as a spectator. I think when she dies or goes away its showing the loss of hope and loss or reality anymore in the show. Maybe she represents hope in an odd way.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 9:34pm

eb-
I think you missed something very key about the Witch with the line:
"Give me claws and hunch/just away from this bunch/and the gloom/and the doom/and the boom crunch!"
She's saying she would rather be ugly and have her powers than be with this group of misfits.

I actually just saw something that clicked. She's talking to her mother in the last little bit, and she begs her to take her away from the "Boom, Crunch" which is what she continually refers to as "stepped on by the giant." If she dissappears, her mother (Wherever she is) must have heard and is rescuing her. Wow...I feel smart-ish.

edit: Rescue isn't the right term. Granting her wish, works better, and ties into that theme more.

Updated On: 2/17/07 at 09:34 PM

[BobPopa]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:00pm

1) I never even considered that she died, It's always been a screw you guys I am getting the hell out of here moment

2) If Sondheim/Lapine intended the exit to result in death in would have likely been in stage notes in the script

[bjivie2]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:04pm

The script says, "She disappears." It doesn't say if she dies, if she leaves, if she uses magic. It simply says disappears.

[BobPopa]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 10:24pm

Then she disspears, she doesn't die

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 12:39am

I have no problem with her disappearing, but if they wanted that to happen, she should have disappeared at least once before in the show to indicate that she can actually do that.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 1:11am

REntBoy-
I fail to see your need for that specific justification after sooo many people have posted with very plausible reasons...

[fabala4077]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 1:25am

Here is what I think: Because the Witch is so far removed from this world, she can choose to leave whenever she wants to. She is forever young and beautiful; age doesn't affect her (except when she's cursed of course) Therefore, it follows suit that her way of leaving this world should be different in some way then everyone else's.

Sort of how the elves in Lord of the Rings go across the sea instead of dying. It is the path to their Nirvana.

Except the Witch doesn't seem a very Nirvana type person. She's probably going across some border to a world without pain and suffering... and therefore without love and happiness. It's a choice she has. She can live in the real world with love, but the disadvantage is the suffering and pain love brings. OR she can choose an introspective, meditative, worry-free life without pain or love. She's fed up with the ridiculous humans and the unfair world.

I played this part last summer - my director told me that if this were a modern play I'd have a revolver to my head at the end of "Last Midnight" but in a more peaceful way than suicide.

Aargh the Witch is confusing.

[pemberlee]

Posted: 2/18/07 at 4:21am

That is so cool you got to play the Witch fabala.

And I agree with everyone who says she just disappears. I've never seen a production that made me think she died.

[bbabe24]

Posted: 2/19/07 at 12:18am

I guess that the script says that she disappears, but I still believe that her death is still open to interpretation by the audience. Her "death" endears her to the audience even further.

I agree with fabalas director--at the end of the song she is sick of living, especially living in pain, and she is most likely going to do something about it, but the giant kills her before she could do it herself. It's like a final coup-de-gras. She dies quickly and her pain ends. The giant provides her with a less painful death than she would have given herself.