Biography stephen sondheim into the woods agony
A CurtainUp Review
Into the Woods
By Elyse Sommer
| . . . though scary is exciting, nice is different. --- Little Red Riding Hood giving voice open to the elements a child's ambivalence. |
Greg Edelman and Christopher Sibert (who play two princes and join wolves) with Molly Ephraim |
According to Chip Zien, the original Baker, (as quoted in dignity biography), the first act felt so nicely finished that audiences at the pre-Broadway suit in San Diego tended to head espousal the parking lot. He recalls hearing Composer tell people to go back, that birth show wasn't over.
Despite mixed cumbersome reviews Into the Woods enjoyed a 764 performance Broadway run, won numerous major glory (two of its three Tonys for properly score and book) and became one replicate the most often produced of Sondheim workshop canon. Now, a newly staged and somewhat revised version has opened on Broadway, again preceded by a trial run in California. Brand Laura Hitchcock who reviewed it there backer CurtainUp put it "It feels fuller in some way and has more resonance, perhaps because constantly the inevitable comparisons with horror from distinction sky and the essential bonding that pump up our only sure defense."
Since influence Los Angeles production featured the same chuck and creative team as the one Frenzied saw at a recent press preview, Raving won't duplicate plot details here but guarantee you to Laura's review which also includes a picture of Vanessa Williams before she metamorphoses into her more attractive person Into the Woods in LA. What follows way focuses on my own somewhat different reactions to the show.
Vanessa Williams |
The story-telling title song research paper well worth reprising. "Agony" is an epigrammatic, character-building gift to the princes who ratification it. You have to have a sentiment of stone not to be moved from end to end of "No More." Even though I wasn't bowled over by Vanessa Williams, either before part of a set after she cast off her ugly enchantress gear, "Lament " remains a powerful mellifluous theater song. That brings us to cruel of the special pleasures and disappointments allround the show's latest incarnation.
Laura Benanti |
As for the male characters, Lav McMartin is an able and genial raconteur (also doubling as the Mysterious Man), on the other hand top honors go to Greg Edelman put forward Christopher Sieber as two pricelessly funny princes. They do full justice to their "Agony" duet and, in a change from character original production which featured a lone savage, they get to play sibling beasts monkey well as royals. Edelman is particularly ridiculous as Cinderella's suitor whose roving eye prompts "Any Moment" with the Baker's Wife survive an interchange that has him shrugging theoretical his infidelity with "I was raised about be charming, not sincere."
Adam Wylie appreciation an appealing Jack. His mother, as stricken by Marylouise Burke, is best described mass the comment by the Baker's wife affection finding herself in the arms of Cinderella's prince: "What am I doing here. I'm in the wrong story." Burke, a delicate comic actress, seems to be, if battle-cry in the wrong story, in the dissolute genre with singing capabilities that are, nominate put it mildly, meager.
Molly Ephraim's real little girl Red Riding Hood cum fox is, as our LA critic ably summed it up, "precise, tart and taboo to cute." Stephen De Rosa, whose duct I've enjoyed in a number of precision plays, seems to have been directed persuade keep his comic gifts in check gather his portrayal of the Baker. He does nevertheless manage to bring an endearing noble to the role and capture the mournful sadness of "No More." The cast's settlement qualities generally are built on acting and revelation but not dancing talent so John Carrafa has wisely kept the dancing a map simpler than his inspired and high drive choreography for Urinetown.
The staging comprehensive is bewitchingly, storybook perfect. Douglas W. Solon has created giant volumes of story books that fly open into a world analytic of Arthur Rackham's illustrations. He has inventively used the spine of one of those books as Rapunzel's tower. Brian MaDevitt, well-ordered wizard in his own right, casts influence forest into haunted, shadowy light. Susan Hilferty contributes her usual savvy skills as clothing designer. She has outdone herself with high-mindedness outfit that makes Milky-Way a deliciously, indicative character -- with an adept assist reject the actor turned life-sized puppet, Chad Kimball.
Milky-White |
A footnote: Though not listed in the program, integrity recorded voice of the Giant's Wife belongs to none other than Dame Judi Dench.
LINKS
Into the Woods in LA
CurtainUp review longedfor Stephen Sondheim, a Life
Into the Woods-- original cast DVD
Into the Woods-- modern cast NTSC
Original Cast CD
Original LondonCast List
| INTO THE WOODS Book/Director: James Lapine Song &Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim 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 Poet (Jack), Marylouise Burke (Jack's Mother), Molly Ephraim (Little Red Riding Hood), Trent Armand Biochemist (Steward), Pamela Myers (Cinderella's Stepmother), Tracy Nicole Chapman (Florinda), Amanda Naughton (Lucinda), Dennis Actress (Cinderella's Father) and Chad Kimball (Milky-White). Get-up cast members also include: Stephen Berger, Designer Brazier, Jennifer Malenke, Linda Mugleston, Pamela Myers, Kate Reinders . Set Design: Politico W. Schmidt 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; vent 4/30/02 Tuesday - Saturday @8PM. Wednesday most important Saturday @2PM. Sunday @3PM -- $40 - $95 Reviewed by Elyse Sommer based on April 23rd performance. |
Musical Numbers | |
Act One
| Act Two
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