Into the Woods

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding DVD!
Review: This DVD wonderfully depicts the hilarious, dark, hopefull, and overall terrific story of Into The Woods. The basic story is that of all the wonderfull fairy tales intertwined with one another revolving around a baker and his wife. While it is familiar to everyone, don't buy it for kids younger than ten because the second act is a much darker story which younger kids might get frightened by. Also, if you are an adult, don't be afraid it will be too immature for your liking. Many of the jokes are specifically adult humor and adults will appreciate the real tone of the musical (life isn't like a fairy tale: While things sometimes turn out happily in the end, not all things do.)

This musical is played out by an exceptional cast. Bernadetter Peters is the witch and her witty portrayal of the character is one of the show's best aspects. As well as being a great person to portray the with, Peters' wonderful voice make songs such as "Last Midnight" delightful to listen to. Joanna Gleason, who plays the part of the Baker's Wife couldn't be a better choiceHer comical timing and depth she brings to the character has the audience giving her a three minute standing ovation after the show-stopping number "Moments In The Woods." Other stars in the cast include Chip Zein as the Baker who frustrates you so many times throughout the show, but you love in the end. Roberts Westenberg is the hilarious choice for the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince. All in all, buy this DVD. It's a must have for musical-lovers.

Rating:
Summary: No "Closed Captioning" Available for the Hearing Impaired
Review: We already owned "Into the Woods" on VHS and the audio CD because we thoroughly love this musical! Very clever and well written! The music is great! When I saw it was now available on DVD (my preference) I ordered a copy in hopes it would have extra "stuff" about the musical itself, as many DVDs do, and above all- it'd have "Closed Captioning" available for the hearing impaired! The DVD is simply the VHS copied onto a disk- no extras. However, as with DVDs, you can jump to different "chapters." Nothing more...

Rating:
Summary: The best!
Review: This is the best musical I have ever seen. I fell in love with this story at age 16, and still love it. Bernadette Peters is a goddess! I recommend this if you like a twist to the "normal". I never laughed so hard.

Rating:
Summary: Strangely beautiful and memorable
Review: "Into The Woods" is a quirky, overlong, often dark story that cleverly combines popular fairy tales. There are no breakout songs in this otherwise cleverly written musical because the music is so deeply entwined into the strange plot. Sondheim is at his best here with ingenious lyrics such as "Life is often so unpleasant, you must know that as a peasant, best to take the moment present...as a present for the moment." Joanna Gleason is the standout in the cast, with the most interesting role (Baker's Wife) and the best solo numbers. The star, Bernadette Peters is delightful as the Witch, but she has surprisingly little stage time and never really has a strong, signature solo to perform. (There is a truncated "No One Is Alone"). Ben Wright, as Jack (as in "Jack and the Beanstalk"), provides the other standout performance with "Giants in the Sky." Made for TV in 1.33:1 aspect on video tape before a live audience, the DVD and VHS tape look about the same to my eye. It is easier to jump around or repeat scenes on the DVD, though. Unfortunately there are no special features on the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Grimm meets Sondheim
Review: A close adaptation of the German-born Brothers Grimm, this crazy mesh of fairy tales appear on the stage as it was meant to be by the traditions of old folk tales, only even better. Sondheim (once again) delivers a score fitting to existence of the stories: a quirky, playful rhythm which transcends to a more foreboding melody as the show comes to an end. It is unapologetic and in-your-face as each character emerges with its own stands on the social and moral scale. It is not crafted for children's eyes, however, as the grim reality and essence of the stories are pushed forward, rather than candy-coated, happy-ending finales. As is the trend with Sondheim musicals, the second act proves to be more intense and heavier for the audiences to dissect as the characters go deeper "into the woods". The "happy ever after" part is put in doubt as the characters slowly get their just desserts: the Baker's Wife (Joanna Gleason) dies after frolicking with Cinderella's Prince behind her husband's back, Cinderella's wicked Stepsisters get their eyes gouged out by birds, and so on. But everything is reconciled in the end; mind you, I say reconciled, not magically transformed into the "happy ever after" thing they sing about. All in all, this is an enjoyable watch, with a theatrical high energy and intensity that is so often lost in videos of a performance. Plus, Bernadette Peters, the all-time leading lady of Sondheim musicals wows the audiences again with a witty portrayal of the Witch. Need I say more?

Rating:
Summary: a very good play
Review: I thought that Bernadet Peters' Into the Woods is a awsome story, has great characters, and has wonderful, cute songs. Bernadet Peters plays a wonderful witch!

Rating:
Summary: Of course you'll love Bernadette Peters.
Review: And I suppose you'll fall in love with Little Red Riding Hood, too, as I did.

Rating:
Summary: Best musical ever created.
Review: WOW!!! This is the best musical ever created, even by a genius like Sondheim! "Into the Woods" best displays life. The first act is a witty, whimsical little light-hearted tale of life and wishes. The second act is more deep, emotional, heartwrenching, et cetera. It is about the aftermath of life and coping with dead friends. In the end, everyone is deceased except for the Baker with a dead wife and newborn child (Chip Zien), the abstracted motherless Jack (Ben Wright), the much-put-upon and motherless Cinderella (Kim Crosby), the grandmotherless Red Ridinghood (Danielle Ferland), and the daughterless Witch (Bernadette Peters). This musical is guaranteed to give you a new outlook on life, wishes, emotions, arguing, et cetera.

Also, if you're a Sondheim fanatic, like I am, this is a definite! No musical collection is complete without Into the Woods!!!

Rating:
Summary: Into The Woods
Review: Into to the Woods is yet another Sondheim masterpiece. In line with most of his other work, it fails to make the 'main stream' and play never ending runs alongside shows such as Cats or Blood Brothers.

Many of the tune from the show are familiar, having been sung by many artists on various albums. They somehow never managed to capture the true emotion. That can only come when you have made that journey into the woods yourself.

To describe it as an adult fairy tale seem a little trite. However after the frist fifteen minutes the viewer is locked into the plot as each of the characters have to go into the woods for a variety of reasons. All of them have a different reason to enter the woods but all of them in some way are looking for success and beauty. By the end of the first act they have received all that their hearts desire.....at a price and plan to live happily ever after.

This dream of living happily ever after is stripped away from them during the second act and all the prizes they had achieved through the challenges of getting in to the woods in the first act are 'lost'. This leaves them with something less tangible as their reward. They no longer have their gold or their beauty but they realise that they have something worth so much more that money can buy.

To enjoy this magnificant performance from all the cast ensure that you have a drink by your side and have un-plugged the 'phone. Sit yourself down preferable in a dark room and allow yourself to be drawn into this journey through the woods. You will re-capture the innocence of being a child once again....only to find that being an adult can be just as much fun.

If you have never watched Sondheims work, this is a great one to start with before moving onto the more macabre Sweeney Todd or over arty Sunday in the Park.

I even managed to get my partner to watch it from start to end in silence...he has since been caught watchng it alone on more than one occassion!

It isn't religion, but it does give you a sense of what is good and what is evil....and you will be searching for the soundtrack to play in the car on those long journeys and you will find that you start to sing each role as you make your way through the rush hour traffick.

Ps If like me you can't sing, make sure the windows are up in the car!

Watch it, enjoy it and escape for two hours into an adult fairytale - become a child again.

Rating:
Summary: Taking A Trip "Into The Woods"
Review: This musical is amazing! If you love the enchantment of the stage, the magic and wonder of fairy tales, and a bit of tragedy...you have found that best musical for you. Due to the stealing of beans from a mischivious Witch, a Baker and his wife set out into the woods so that the enchatress may uplift their barren life. In search of strange ingredience for a special potion, the husband and wife learn that one can not work without the other. Also in the woods are Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, and Cinderella...all searching for something. After much confusment and entertainment everyone gets their happiness. Yet, Act 2 brings the happy characters to a halt. A Gaintess (who's husband Jack killed) seeks revenge. Some retreat, some stay. The Witch, who has been given the fault by the others, shows her point of veiw, and goes a bit mad. With few characters left they work together to find a way out of their delema.