Into The Woods

Stephen Sondheim's Tony-winning score favors intricate ensemble numbers that present the characters' divergent, then overlapping fears and desires. And it's the latter category that provides a primary thread to James Lapine's ingenious puzzle of a book, which coheres around the inevitability--and treachery--of our innermost wishes. That theme is given farcical energy in the first act, which offers enough comic invention, tart dialogue, and witty music for a satisfying evening of theater as is.

Instead, Sondheim and Lapine offer a bold, darker second act that takes a look at what happens after "happily ever after," elevating the work beyond inspired parody toward allegorical gravity. By the final scenes, with the one-two punch of the score's two most enduring songs, "No One Is Alone" and "Children Will Listen," what began as a clever diversion has touched deeper nerves and primed some tear ducts. This video production by the original Broadway cast gets its marquee shimmer from Bernadette Peters's wonderful witch, but the standout (and Tony winner as Best Actress) is Joanna Gleason, who gives the Baker's Wife a mixture of warmth, pragmatism, and sudden, poignantly romantic radiance.

The DVD version is comparatively no-frills, given its American Playhouse origins, but multiformat digital audio renders the musical performances in immaculate detail. --Sam Sutherland

Anyhoo, I saw this musical in high school (let me rephrase: I saw this video in high school...oh wait, I forgot. I DID see the play in high school too. Weird. But the video came first, so...end of aside) and have loved it ever since. I am an optimistic person by nature and like the phrase "happily ever after." I don't understand why our cyncial society is so determined to sink that phrase in the cruel, unforgiving sea of reality (for more on this subject see Cervantes' soliloquoy in "Man of La Mancha"). It is, however, always a great relief to me when I see that "Non-happy ever after" type shows generally always prove themselves wrong. The ending to this musical is...not what you'd expect! Ha! Thought I was gonna spoil it, didn't ya? But just the same it is a happy one. If any ending can be called happy in the wake of horror and death, and I say sure. Sondheim's best work, in my book. Bernadette Peters is as wonderful as always as the Wicked Witch, and since the most recent revival had (Shudder!) Vanessa Williams in the role, this is the show for you. I reckon.


i wish, more than anything...   July 7, 2004
LOUISE A. POLLOCK (Mountain Lakes, NJ USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Cinderella, Little Red Ridding Hood, The Baker and his Wife, and Rapunzel-- all in one! The opening number "I wish" is when the Baker and his Wife, Cinderella, Little Red Ridding Hood and Jack sing what they want (to sell a cow, a child, to go to granny's house, to go to the festival) and everything and the Witch comes in and stirrs up trouble and due to her all your average day fairy tales turned upside-down and on their big fat magic butts!

Now of course, the Witch does something (duh)! she makes the Baker and his Wife in order to get a child to get a golden slipper (Cinderella) a cape as red as blood (Little Red Ridding Hood) a cow as white as milk (Jack) and hair as yellow as corn (Rapunzel). Of course, they get all the things with a lot of obsticals. Duh, I mean come on people it's not like they're really going to get all those stuff easy cheesy in a 3 hour play. That's where they sing their other hit song "Into the Woods".

Anyhow, Jack killed the Giant and the wife has come back to find Jack and guess what-- you'll have to find out what happens. So ha! It's so good it's magical.

Starring Bernadette Peters (the Witch) Kim Crosby (Cinderella) Danelle Fernland (Little Red Ridding Hood) Pamela Winslow (Rapunzel) Ben Wright (Jack) Chip Zien (Baker) Joanna Gleason (the Baker's Wife) and of course the Narrator, who does do a lot-- (Tom Aldredge)

HOPE YOU ENJOY! (I saw the 2001 one, so I can't say which one's better) SEE YA! I GUESS YOU'LL BE ON YOUR JOURNEY!


Very Obsession Worthy   June 11, 2004
Kaitlin (Katy, TX USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I love many broadway musicals and plays, but this one takes the cake. Everything about it is superb! This taping of the play is excellent, gives you the broadway stage experience while also giving excellent close ups and a little bit of film magic, together creating an ecellent buy! Well, well worth the price, just to see the superb Bernadette Peters! This is a must have addition to any DVD collection!


Happily Ever After... I Wish!   June 8, 2004
Kristina D. Smith (Naperville,IL)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Into the Woods is a comical musical about classical Fairy Tales. Many of our favorite stories are found here and some interesting turn of events. The phrase 'happy ever after'. Is turned into totally different corners.
The movie has many surprising one liners and memorial scenes. The cast all work well with each other and seem so well matched.