Why Does The Witch Die In "Into the Woods"?- Page 2
Why Does The Witch Die In "Into the Woods"?
#25re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:02pmI must say that I HATED the way they did it in the revival, it was so random. With all her hair falling out and stuff.
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#26re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:02pm
Okay so, I may be the only person in the universe who HASN'T seen Into the Woods, but was it absolutely necessary for you to put that in the subject line? Couldn't you have titled it "Into the Woods Question" ???
I can see how you might be a little perturbed, but I think something almost twenty years old doesn't really warrant a spoiler warning.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#27re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:11pm
Kringas is right, every library in the U.S probably has a copy of the darn thing.
but don't worry, she doesn't die. she just exits.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#28re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:14pmI saw the into the woods original and revival, she just goes away Updated On: 2/15/07 at 04:14 PM
WalkOn
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/06
#29re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:15pm
I think LAST MIDNIGHT is one of the most problematic moments in the show. It never quite "lands."
The problem is that the audience doesn't know what exactly just happened. I know I didn't, the first time I saw the show.
It was until I read the children's book adaptation that I had some idea and even then....
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.
Updated On: 2/15/07 at 04:15 PM
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#30re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:16pm
um spoiler much
Wow
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#31re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:21pm
I must say that I HATED the way they did it in the revival, it was so random. With all her hair falling out and stuff.
I thought someone said it was the result of her eating some of the magic beans, which made her revert back to her old and ugly state.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
BDrischBDemented
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/05
#32re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:27pmI never saw the revival, but every time I come here an read another post about it, I am still genuinely shocked at how terrible it sounded.
"Your lyrics lack subtlety! You can't just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!"
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#33re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:31pmSee, I think it's one of the top moments in the show. You have a character who knows everything except: 1) How to keep power and beauty, 2) How to keep her daughter, 3) How to stop what is happening from happening. She has done everything, and has become so fed up that she just flips out and basically gives them a big "F-off!" and goes away. If she dies/commits suicide it weakens her.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#34re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:44pmI didn't see either Broadway production, but I always assumed she dies. I always thought her singing "and the boom, crunch" was her throwing herself in the path of the giant.
ElphieDefiesGravity
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
#35re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:49pmMy old theatre teacher told us that she goes to Hell.
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."
Wishes come true, not free.
Wishes come true, not free.
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#36re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 4:50pmWhat does that have to do with the Witch in INTO THE WOODS, Elphie?
Danielm
Broadway Star Joined: 3/17/05
#37re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 5:23pmI don't have the show memorized but I don't remember it saying that her mother is dead anywhere in the show. I always thought her "mother" was an earth-goddess creature as when Wiccans talk about "the mother."
Yes, we do need a third vampire musical.--Little Sally, Gypsy of the Year 2005.
Benzy92
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
#38re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 5:27pmi've seen both productions and been in a production, and I always thought the Witch died. I thought the CRUNCH was her being killed by the giant!
Danielm
Broadway Star Joined: 3/17/05
#39re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 6:12pmI saw the original, the revival and many other productions. Never thought the witch died.
Yes, we do need a third vampire musical.--Little Sally, Gypsy of the Year 2005.
#40re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 6:29pm
I agree that it is a confusing moment in the show, I did not really know what had happened to her the first time I saw the DVD way back when, I believe I thought she had melted.
From the lyrics and the Lapine original staging it is assumed that she goes back to her ugly self and leaves the kingdom for good.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
ErikInTheCity
Stand-by Joined: 5/18/06
#41re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 7:27pmHer hair falls out in the revival? Hmm. . .time to pull the old bootleg.
#42re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 7:59pmShe returns in the end alive for "children will listen"- not like the baker's wife who the baker can only hear.
ElphieDefiesGravity
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/27/04
#43re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 9:10pm
Hah, BSo. Funny. It took me a minute to get that. 
"Blow out the candles, Robert, and make a wish. Want something. Want something."
Wishes come true, not free.
Wishes come true, not free.
&OneForMahler
Understudy Joined: 6/27/06
#44re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 9:16pm
I never thought she died.
"Porter was conisdered for the role in the revival..."
That would have been amazing. Seriously.
<--- me & Erin Davie =)
omigod, omigod you guys...
#45re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/15/07 at 9:29pm
I love this thread! I've seen the DVD a million times, and I've always been confused by the witch in the second act.
P.S.
Last Midnight is one of the most divatastic broadway songs ever.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#46re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/16/07 at 12:38pmMy problem with it is that the witch never disppears that way prior to the ending. She blows smoke, but she never disappears through the floor. So that being the first time she does it, that doesn't make sense. Most of them time, like in old theater, going through the floor is associated with hell, etc. If they wanted her to return to her normal self, then she should have just throw smoke and hobbled off like she did in the begining. I don't think it's accurate with the rest of the play. It's confusing, as most people weren't quite sure what was going on. I guess you could say it's open to interpretation, but I think it's a major part of the story. I think it could have been more interesting if the witch stayed around and showed some sort of humanity in singing the song "No One is Alone" or at least gotten her own little solo line.
bjivie2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/04
#47re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/16/07 at 1:06pm
The script says "She disappears."
RobbieJ is the only person that has realy given any sort of reasoning behind their answer, and his is the one that makes the most sense. It would take a director, however, to make that clear, as it's not made clear in the lyrics or stage directions.
Since Sondheim and Lapine obviously changed it a little bit in the revival, what they were going for is exactly what Robbie explained: The Witch loses the beans so that she will regain her ugly state and in turn, her powers, so that she can use them to escape. I guess that's what's supposed to happen. Whether or not that's the most effective ending of the Witch.
Eeeeeeyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaannnnnddddd aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiyyyyyyaaaaaammmmmmmm teeeeeeeelllllliiiiiinnngg yyyyooooooouuuuuuuwwwaaaahh...
#48re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/16/07 at 3:19pm
She returns in the end alive for "children will listen"- not like the baker's wife who the baker can only hear.
All of the dead characters return for the finale, including Jack's Mother and Little Red's Grandmother. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but when the witch does appear in the finale, she appears beautiful, and it wouldn't make sense to see her that way if she had transformed back to her ugly self.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#49re: Why Does The Witch Die In 'Into the Woods'?
Posted: 2/16/07 at 3:53pm
She does return beautiful. At least in the productions I've seen. I just think the show is great, except that one little moment where things aren't really clear.
Also, the show drags towards the end, but I always thought the second act wasn't really needed anyways. I think the second act is great, and the last two "slow" songs are beautiful, but it can be a little tough to sit through.
