Into the Woods at Roundabout
Into the Woods at Roundabout
#1Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/5/15 at 11:08am
Sorry if there's already a thread, but I couldn't find one for this current production that I finally saw last night. It was delightful from being to end and a vast improvement over the production in the park a few summers ago.
I'm not familiar with the Fiasco theater group, but they gave Into the Woods the Peter and the Starcatcher treatment and it worked perfectly. Lots of cast doubling and people playing instruments (only one piano player didn't have a singing/speaking part), but it enhanced the evening rather merely feeling like they couldn't afford a full orchestra.
The vocal performances were very exposed and the text was the clearest I can remember it. I know this score inside and out, but it felt so fresh and vital. Part of that is just the genius of the piece that it can keep giving you new insights on repeat viewings, but credit must be given to this production too.
Into the Woods has always been one of my comfort pieces. After a bum couple of weeks this production and group of actors lifted my spirits, gave me chills (No More!!) and still has me thinking about this morning.
If only all shows could be this beautiful. Dare I write this, but thank you Roundabout for bringing this in!
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
kade.ivy
Broadway Star Joined: 7/28/13
#2Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/5/15 at 12:30pmCouldn't agree more, Whizzer. This was the first live production of Into the Woods I saw, and it was incredibly moving. The scaled-down atmosphere forces you to focus on the text-and what a great text it is! This is excellent storytelling.
#2Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:43pmI'm so glad you enjoyed it! I saw the production when it was at the McCarter and I have tickets to see it again in April at the Pels. It really is a gorgeous production and elevates the already very strong text in a way I didn't know it could be. And I agree about it being a vast improvement over the production in the park as well.
#3Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:13pmIt's a great show, and it's being staged in a great theater where there's no such thing as a bad seat.
"Mostly, I loved the size of these people's emotions. Nobody has emotions this size anymore. Outsized emotions. Operatic emotions. Kushemski and Vanda are like Tristan and Isolde, they're Paolo and Francesca. Nobody's in total thrall like this anymore. Nobody's overcome by passion like this, or goes through this kind of rage." Thomas, Venus in Fur
wexy
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
#4Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 9:17amI really enjoyed it as well...
'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'
#5Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 9:38pmThis was the first production of this show (including the movie) where I didn't feel like the second act dragged. I really enjoyed it.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#6Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 9:53pm
The production might have felt less "draggy" because Sondheim and Lapine allowed the team to make some cuts, including the Midnights and parts of the finale.
I found the production somewhat boring, but I may have been "Wooded out" after the movie and constantly listening to the soundtrack and cast albums.
#7Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 10:36pmI was doing some role doubling on paper and couldn't figure out how they got it to 10 cast members. AND I didn't include Milky White as played by a human like they did. The best I could do was a cast of 12. Lol.
http://puccinischronicles.wordpress.com
#8Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 10:38pmAm I the only one who sees real potential for this production concept as an OBC reunion with Sondheim doing double duty at the piano and as the Narrator/Mysterious Man? Maybe a filmed one-time-only kind of thing?
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky
#9Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/6/15 at 10:41pm
How costly would tickets to THAT be...
But at the same time, how cool to see...
http://puccinischronicles.wordpress.com
#10Into the Woods at Roundabout
Posted: 3/7/15 at 4:34pmI'm kinda getting frustrated w/the whole "do it on the cheap" so as to better appreciate 'the bones' of well-constructed shows? I ended up enjoying it but kept waiting for a bit more magic over just lots of funny parody gimmicks. The princes voices sucked & the Bakers Wife needed lessons so as to not sound like an amateur when her voice shifted. I prefer casting that picks the best over the ones who fit a rather ordinary story-telling troupe. Witch, Rapunzel, Baker & Cow stood out nicely but the gushy praise here seems too youthfully innocent & is bringing out my older cynical streak. Oh, & the taxidermy wolf head as puppet seemed disrespectful from an animal rights standpoint. Overall the cast is working hard & having fun with a show by one of our masters - so that should be enough to keep from being too critical, right?
