Biography stephen sondheim into the woods review
A CurtainUp Review
Into the Woods
Get ahead of Elyse Sommer
| . . . though scary is thrilling, nice is different. --- Around Red Riding Hood giving categorical to a child's ambivalence. |
Greg Edelman and Christopher Sibert (who play two princes and twosome wolves) with Molly Ephraim |
The first act completely realized the desired bright-light-funny nature. But, given both men's veer to inject their melancholy take care of of life into their industry, the darkness of the mother country turned the happily-ever-after finale deal in act one on its attitude during act two.
According to Chip Zien, the uptotheminute Baker, (as quoted in prestige biography), the first act mattup so satisfyingly finished that audiences at the pre-Broadway run in vogue San Diego tended to imagination for the parking lot.
He recalls hearing Composer tell people to go repeat, that the show wasn't conveying.
Despite mixed critical reviews Into the Woods enjoyed neat 764 performance Broadway run, won numerous major awards (two be the owner of its three Tonys for outperform score and book) and became one of the most over and over again produced of Sondheim works.
Nowadays, a newly staged and to some extent or degre revised version has opened playacting Broadway, again preceded by wonderful trial run in California. Importation Laura Hitchcock who reviewed consist of there for CurtainUp put importance "It feels fuller somehow topmost has more resonance, perhaps in that of the inevitable comparisons take on horror from the sky instruction the essential bonding that report our only sure defense."
Since the Los Angeles origination featured the same cast cranium creative team as the companionship I saw at a fresh press preview, I won't identical plot details here but concern you to Laura's review which also includes a picture pan Vanessa Williams before she metamorphoses into her more attractive child Into the Woods in Plan.
What follows thus focuses champ my own somewhat different reactions to the show.
Vanessa Williams |
And who but Sondheim jumble write lyrics with words turn this way rhyme so sublimely and give a rundown of complete little dramas.
Blue blood the gentry story-telling title song is on top form worth reprising. "Agony" is unembellished amusing, character-building gift to decency princes who sing it. Restore confidence have to have a starting point of stone not to nurture moved by "No More." Yet though I wasn't bowled glare at by Vanessa Williams, either hitherto or after she cast disrupt her ugly witch gear, "Lament " remains a powerful euphonious theater song.
That brings bulky to some of the public pleasures and disappointments of birth show's latest incarnation.
Laura Benanti |
"A Untangle Nice Prince" matches her allocation with another of this production's female assets, Kerry O'Malley, loftiness Baker's Wife.
As keep the male characters, John McMartin is an able and beneficial narrator (also doubling as grandeur Mysterious Man), but top honors go to Greg Edelman most recent Christopher Sieber as two pricelessly funny princes.
They do comprehensive justice to their "Agony" duo and, in a change take from the original production which featured a lone wolf, they bury the hatchet to play sibling beasts little well as royals. Edelman silt particularly funny as Cinderella's follower whose roving eye prompts "Any Moment" with the Baker's Old lady and an interchange that has him shrugging off his heresy with "I was raised call for be charming, not sincere."
Ecstasy Wylie is an appealing Shit.
His mother, as played strong Marylouise Burke, is best alleged by the comment by leadership Baker's wife upon finding actually in the arms of Cinderella's prince: "What am I familiarity here. I'm in the malfunction story." Burke, a fine funny actress, seems to be, supposing not in the wrong book, in the wrong genre chart singing capabilities that are, exchange put it mildly, meager.
Molly Ephraim's real little kid Red Riding Hood cum rapscallion is, as our LA essayist aptly summed it up, "precise, tart and anathema to cute." Stephen De Rosa, whose swipe I've enjoyed in a figure of other plays, seems be in opposition to have been directed to conceal his comic gifts in inspect for his portrayal of representation Baker.
He does nevertheless regulate to bring an endearing warm to the role and fastener the wistful sadness of "No More." The cast's strengths as a rule are built on acting topmost singing but not dancing flair so John Carrafa has sagely kept the dancing a piece simpler than his inspired refuse high energy choreography for Urinetown.
The staging overall recap bewitchingly, storybook perfect. Douglas Unguarded. Schmidt has created giant volumes of story books that dash open into a world suggestive of Arthur Rackham's illustrations. No problem has inventively used the rachis of one of those books as Rapunzel's tower. Brian MaDevitt, a wizard in his individual right, casts the forest command somebody to haunted, shadowy light.
Susan Hilferty contributes her usual savvy capacity as costume designer. She has outdone herself with the neatness that makes Milky-Way a lusciously, expressive character -- with put down adept assist from the individual turned life-sized puppet, Chad Kimball.
Milky-White |
The long precede act feels more finished by ever and a number detailed people around me did in fact get up to leave, quasi- because they were unfamiliar polished the show and partly by reason of ninety-minute intermissionless shows have pass away something of a norm. Deep-rooted there's apparently been some border since Los Angeles, additional tightening would benefit family audiences (I'd recommend ages 9 and up).
Still, the flaws fade soupзon the face of Mr. Lapine's clever if somewhat moral hefty book and the wonderful euphony, lyrics, and staging -- plead for to mention that scene shoplifting bovine charmer, Milky-White.
Put in order footnote: Though not listed worry the program, the recorded tone of the Giant's Wife belongs to none other than Bird Judi Dench.
LINKS
Into the Woods in LA
CurtainUp review of Stephen Sondheim, a Life
Into goodness Woods-- original cast DVD
Into the Woods-- original cast NTSC
Original Cast CD
Original LondonCast Track record
| INTO THE WOODS Book/Director: Saint Lapine Music &Lyrics: Stephen Composer Choreographer: John Carrafa Cast: Vanessa Williams (Witch), Laura Benanti (Cinderella), Gregg Edelman (Cinderella's Prince), Christopher Sieber (Rapunzel's Prince), Melissa Dye (Rapunzel), Kerry OMalley (Baker's Wife), Stephen DeRosa (Baker), Adam Wylie (Jack), Marylouise Cut off (Jack's Mother), Molly Ephraim (Little Red Riding Hood), Trent Armand Kendall (Steward), Pamela Myers (Cinderella's Stepmother), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Florinda), Amanda Naughton (Lucinda), Dennis Actor (Cinderella's Father) and Chad Kimball (Milky-White). Ensemble cast members likewise include: Stephen Berger, Adam Heater, Jennifer Malenke, Linda Mugleston, Pamela Myers, Kate Reinders . Set Design: Douglas W. Statesman Costume Design: Susan Hilferty Lighting Design: Brian MacDevitt Sound Design: Dan Moses Schreier Musical Director: Paul Gemignani Broadhurst, 235 West 44th Street (8/9th Aves) 212/ 239-6200, 800/432-7250 From 4/13/02; opening 4/30/02 Weekday - Saturday @8PM. Wednesday extort Saturday @2PM. Sunday @3PM -- $40 - $95 |
Musical Numbers | |
Act One
| Act Two
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