In
Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine lead a bunch of
new and old storybook characters on a journey of growth and self-discovery,
blends various familiar fairy tales with an original story of a
childless Baker and his Wife, who are attempting to reverse a curse
on their family in order to have a child. It is a show full of well-known
fairy tale characters, but this is no Disney-style pantomime, sticking
closely to the original dark translations of Grimms Fairy Tales.
In the first act, the characters set out to achieve
their goal of living "Happily Ever After" through familiar
routes - Cinderella goes to the Ball and captures the heart of Prince
Charming, Jack climbs the Beanstalk and finds a land of Giants and
Gold, Little Red Riding Hood survives her clash with the wolf at
Grandma's house, and Rapunzel manages to escape her tower with the
aid of a handsome prince who climbs her long hair. The Baker and
his Wife move through their stories while gathering ingredients
for a spell to give them a baby. The spell works, and at the end
of Act I all characters seem poised to live "Happily Ever After".
Act Two, however, deals with the consequences
that traditional fairy tales conveniently ignore. What does one
do with a dead Giant in the back yard? Does marrying a Prince really
lead to a happy and fulfilling life? Is carving up the wolf the
solution? Is the Giant always wrong? In Act Two, all the characters
must deal with what happens AFTER "Happily Ever After".
With a fabulous score by Stephen Sondheim, this
is one of the best musicals available to perform today.
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