"The Light is Good"

-an sjsondheim.com review

The lighting is excellent, it silhouettes the woods as the Giant's shadow hovers dangerously over them. The Giantress is the voice of Judy Dench (though at times she sounds like Bette Davis). The sound of the Giant almost shakes the very foundation of the Broadhurst Theatre. The 2002 revival of Into The woods is a phenomenon. I saw the original production of Into The Woods on Broadway on several occasions, I have watched the video countless times. If you asked me a day ago if it were possible for the revival to top the original I would have said "No Way.” Well, "Way", the revival is extraordinary Mr. Lapine has a fresh take on Into The Woods, and has applied it to his direction, and new work on the book with a great deal of thought and care.. This cast is remarkable each and every one of them, including the cow. What Mr. Lapine has done is, removed the sarcasm, the mugging and some of the humor (which worked well in the original,) and introduced a feeling of innocence and honesty that wasn't there before. In the first act specifically you can see this the most. Jack and Little Red are children, not the hip and sometimes snide characters we saw in the original, but real children, who get nervous and excited and scared. Both Adam Wylie (Jack) and Molly V. Ephraim (Little Red) are superb. Jack's Mother (Mary Louise Burke) practically steals the show with her cartoon voice and comic flair. Speaking of comic flair the Cow (Chad Kimball) is a treasure. Rolling it's eyes and stretching, with a myriad of expressions that at times can almost melt the heart. Sometimes the Cow is so diverting I wonder if it's too distracting.Still,when all is said and done... I’d leave it in.

Vanessa Williams’ Witch is driven, fierce and funny, as well as beautifully sung. Her transformation at the end of Act One is magical, as she floats heavenwards and descends new, shiny and beautiful. The song Our Little World from the London production is added and fills in some of the blanks in the relationship between her and Repunzal . The now two Wolves sing together near the end of Hello, Little Girl: one to Little Red, and one to The Three Little pigs, who make a brief appearance. The song still maintains its sexuality, what’s gone is Little Red's sexuality, she is in every way a child.

Minor changes can make a big difference: now when Cinderella reaches the end of On The Steps Of The Palace she is joined by Jack on her far right, and Little Red on her left. They sing the last line of the song in unison. Jack singing “In the land of the Giant!",and Little Red singing “In the belly of the Wolf!" it’s a striking moment.The second act is sleeker, and not as seemingly heavy handed as it was in the original, but it still maintains all it's "weight." The innocence of the first act gradually disappears. Their voices become stronger, more direct.They grow. Into The Woods has grown as well, grown,and thrived.

-Bruce M. webmaster sjsondheim.com
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