What Occurs When You Get What You Want For?
NEW YORK—Each motion has penalties, even when these penalties might not be felt till years later. That is the underlying message within the 1987 musical “Into the Woods,” as Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine (e book) look at simply what occurs after “fortunately ever after.” This newest revival is shifting to Broadway after a short run on the Encores! live performance sequence.
Mixing the ominous with the whimsical, the story takes place in a far-off kingdom whose inhabitants embrace a Baker (Brian D’arcy James) and his spouse (Sara Bareilles). The couple’s biggest want is to have a toddler, however they’ve been unsuccessful as a consequence of a witch’s curse.
This in retaliation for the Baker’s father stealing quite a few greens from the Witch’s backyard years earlier, together with some very highly effective magic beans. The Witch (Patina Miller), who has additionally suffered for the reason that theft, now gives the Baker a technique to finish the curse, an effort which can take him deep into the huge woods that encompass the dominion. Decided to do exactly that, the Baker quickly units off, leaving his protesting spouse behind.
Fairy-Story Mash Up
Because it seems, the Baker will not be the one one within the woods this evening. The viewers is quickly greeted by the sight of a woman (Julia Lester) in a crimson hood on her technique to go to her ailing grandmother (Annie Golden); a boy (Cole Thompson) taking his beloved cow to market; a Prince (Gavin Creel) making an attempt to trace down an exquisite girl (Phillipa Soo) who attended a competition in his citadel; and one other Prince (Joshua Henry) who has fallen in love with a Woman (Alysia Velez) with lengthy blonde hair imprisoned in a foreboding tower. The complete first act is mainly a mash up of assorted fairy story characters and storylines.
Every of the characters introduced is trying to find one thing that can provide their life which means, be it love, success, meals, fame, or fortune. After a couple of twists and turns, a lot of the characters get precisely what they need. Or in order that they assume. Because the story strikes into the a lot darker Act 2, many start to comprehend what they thought they wished isn’t what they honestly want.
Relatable Storylines
“Into the Woods” incorporates storylines and conditions everybody can relate to, with some points extra topical at present than when the present was first introduced. Lapine’s e book options uncared for wives, overbearing moms, step-mothers, and step-sisters, together with these craving to interrupt free from familial restrictions.
The one frequent theme by means of all of it is how one’s intentions don’t at all times end up as deliberate, corresponding to when the Witch tries to maintain her daughter secure from risks of the skin world by locking her in a tower; or how a boy’s need for wealth might result in the undoing of a complete kingdom. Although the tip might certainly justify the means, as famous by the Baker’s Spouse, one should finally reply for his or her half in how they achieved these ends.
Miller is superb because the Witch, a personality who additionally involves embody the phrase “magnificence is just pores and skin deep,” for any change in her look fails to change the individual inside. Bareilles provides a pleasant earthy high quality to the Baker’s Spouse, a lady whom her husband relies on greater than he is aware of, and the glue which holds their marriage collectively.
James is okay because the Baker, a hard-working everyman and one of many characters who matures essentially the most by story’s finish.
Soo is properly interesting as Cinderella, who comes to comprehend that life is finest lived on one’s personal phrases. David Patrick Kelly is pleasurable as a Mysterious Man who is aware of way over he lets on. Joshua Henry and Gavin Creel are splendidly excessive because the princes. Creel additionally does job within the position of the Wolf.
A Sondheim Rating
Sondheim’s rating, with its jaunty title tune, is superb, as are the orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. A beautiful comedian spotlight is “Agony,” a duet by the Princes as they dream about what they’re unable to acquire. Creel, specifically, turns in an exquisitely hilarious efficiency.
Among the numbers with extra somber overtones embrace “Youngsters Will Hear,” a warning concerning the energy and the hazard of phrases; and “So Comfortable,” the place a number of of the characters start to comprehend the seemingly excellent life they’ve achieved will not be as excellent as they as soon as thought, notably when one realizes they don’t have anything in frequent with their vital different.
The assorted costumes give off the looks of an expansive shade tableau, all fantastically designed by Andrea Hood. One space the place the present is a bit missing is the units. As this was initially a live performance manufacturing, there was not that in depth a set to talk of, however scenic designer David Rockwell’s efforts come off effectively and is ready to properly convey a sense of each marvel and foreboding in terms of the exhibiting the woods of the title.
A story about how reaching your wildest desires might not at all times be such a good suggestion, “Into the Woods” makes for pleasant end-of-summer leisure.
‘Into the Woods’
St. James Theatre
246 W. forty fourth St.
Tickets: IntoTheWoodsBway.com
Operating Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes (one intermission)
Open run
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