I saw a version of Into the Woods recently that had quite a few changes to the script from when I did it back in 2005.
The biggest and most obvious was that they use Rapunzel’s tower to kill the giant as opposed to the tree. There were others as well scattered throughout. I remember that most of the changes involved all 4 of the survivors pitching in with the plan to kill the Giant as opposed to Cinderella having all of the ideas.
I spoke to the director, and it wasn't a change she made, it was in the script.
And honestly, it makes more sense…they have a tower that has been established, as opposed to a random tree they happened to find.
Does anybody know when and what sparked the changes
You know that's really interesting. Does anyone know if after the revival(2002) is that the script most people use? I saw a production recently with those same changes. I am also auditioning for a production in December. I wonder if the script has those same changes.
The Script that MTI licenses incorporates several changes James Lapine made for the Broadway revival. Most notably this includes the rewritten version of the Baker's last argument with his wife and a few tweaks to the opening of act two. "Our Little World", A two-wolf version of "Hello Little Girl" (not the same version used in the revival) and the rewritten lyrics to "Last Midnight" are included as Optional choices in the script.
Yes...the argument with the Baker and his Wife was the part that was so obvious to me...I knew there was one where there was an inconsistency and didn't remember what.
The new argument has nothing about going 100 paces, yet when the Baker's wife meets the Prince, she is counting her paces. I remember that the new argument seemed extra harsh compared to the older one. Probably a bit more natural than "Will only a Giant's foot stop your arguing?!"
But I really loved using the tower and having them all contribute to the plan against the giant...wish I could remember those changes though. I think maybe Granny's house had the pitch and The Baker noticed the tower.