Why was the Into the Woods revival..

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:22am

allowed to go on so badly...

I just got the recording.

Who okayed the casting??

WHO OKAYED THE LYRIC CHANGE IN LAST MIDNIGHT???

Im kinda angry..

garrrrr

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:24am

Umm.. Your anger comes 6 years too late.

[jv92]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:29am

Laura Benanti and John McMartin were the only good things about it. How they lost Tony Awards (to two arch, campy and very hammy performances) is beyond me.
And Sondheim okayed (and WROTE) that idiotic lyric change.

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:31am

I agree with you about Benanti!

I always thought that the "Last Midnight" had some of best Sondheim lyrics ever! And then it gets destroyed.. oiy

[jv92]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:35am

OK, my monthly John McMartin rant-

John McMartin has been robbed of Tonys three times in his carreer, two out of those times he hasn't even been nominated:
1) Grey Gardens two seasons ago (no nod)
2) Into the Woods
3) The unforgiveable...FOLLIES! Oy. Even a Featured Actor nod would have been suitable.
He is by far the most underrated actor that has ever worked and that is still working in the theatre.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:38am

Is it bad that I don't hate Vanessa Williams on the recording?

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:40am

He is highly entitled to next years Lifetime Achievement though, I think he should be first in line.
Updated On: 6/21/08 at 12:40 AM

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:41am

I HATE Vanessa Williams on the album.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:44am

I hated Vanessa Williams when I saw it. HATED. I grew up with the OBC of Into the Woods, and I was so horrified by Vanessa, and pretty much the entire cast. As stated above, the only good things about the show were Laura and John. I was only 11 when I saw it, but I knew that what I was witnessing was not quality theatre, and it was definitely not the production that an incredible show like Into the Woods deserved to have.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:46am

I didn't see the revival. But I enjoy Vanessa on the recording. And she got quite favorable reviews.

But she is definitely no Bernadette.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:48am

I pretty much have the same thoughts ljay.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:49am

Vanessa's definitely no Bernadette. Or Julia McKenzie, who I also love. But Vanessa's songs on the revival CR are some of the few that I'll actually listen to on a regular basis.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:50am

Julia McKenzie is riveting in "Our Little World" on the recording. She can be hit or miss for me and she definitely owns that song.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 12:50am

The lyric change fit the concept of parent's being responsible for their actions, and worked well with the staging.

But, that's just me.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:00am

I really like Vanessa Williams as the Witch, but I have grown to appreciate Peter's performance even more. I think Greg Edelman might have bested Robert Westernberg as Cinderella's Prince.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:02am

As Husk pointed out, the lyric change reinforced the concept and was quite lovely in context. Vanessa Williams was not very good, but not bad... not bad at all... she just made it clear that the Witch was not the lead... but golly gee could she wear that red dress!!! Also, Kerry O'Malley was quite magical... but not so wonderful as to pull focus... same with Stephen DeRosa... I think the casting made it clear it was an ensemble show... where as I think the casting in the original couldn't help but make it feel there were two or three STARS... which is not really how the show is written.

I don't think you'll get very far with this "who okayed these changes" as the authors not only "okayed" the changes but... actually MADE the changes... and chose the casting.


kmc

[jewishboy]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:04am

Oh yeah, I don't mind the lyric change.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:23am

I actually prefer the new lyrics and enjoy Vanessa Williams as the Witch. But, it could be because I didn't really grow up with the original production as a lot of people here did.

[achangeinme]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 1:33am

I really hate the revival recording of ITW. I can hardly listen to it. But I also realize I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to stuff like that. :P

Benanti was the only part of the production I liked.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 4:20am

It's funny how everyone hated Benanti after her Into the Woods ordeal and now because she's won a Tony we've forgiven her. Don't get me wrong. I say we because I have too.

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 5:44am

Don't forget the cow. The cow was MUCH better in the revival.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:30am

i don't like the new cast recording either, and i really don't like vanessa williams on it. that may be because i am so in love with bernadette as the witch.

[agentpattycakes]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 8:45am

My first encounter with the show was with the revival recording so I guess I have a bias towards that. Don't get me wrong, I love Bernadette and Joanna Gleason but I tend to lean more towards the revival recording.

I also like the lyric change and agree with everybody else who liked it, it just further emphasizes the themes of the show.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:13am

I saw it couple of times. It is one of my alltime favorite shows.

I wouldn't say it was "bad," it won the Tony for Best Revival.

I enjoyed it very much and thought the lyric change was fitting for the different arch they wanted to take.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 6/21/08 at 9:31am

I hate the lyric change, it cut out the BEST part of that song for me.