Perez Reviews: Into The Woods? In The Woods!
The Public Theater’s production of Into The Woods has gotten some very mixed reviews, but we found it to be very enjoyable – for the most part. We had never seen the Sondheim classic before and were pleased to get to experience it for the first time in such a unique setting as Central Park. The show is the show. We probably would have liked it better had it ended at the end of Act 1. But, Sondheim is Sondheim and though he’s a genius composer and lyricist, he sure loves to be contrarian! Woods has some very memorable music. Songs that have transcended the show. And if this production were to move to Broadway, our biggest note and we disliked the most was the casting. Denis O’Hare as the Baker and Sarah Stiles as Little Red Ridinghood were just awful and grating, respectively in that order. We do, though, think that is the way they were directed. Piss poor choices made with their characters. Big movie star Amy Adams was more than good as the Baker’s Wife. Joanna Gleason won the Tony for that role in the original Broadway production of Woods, while Bernadette Peters was glazed over for her portrayal of the Witch. In this revival, Donna Murphy steals the show with her Witch. She is absolutely enthralling! Vocally dynamic and her acting is superb! She alone is reason enough to catch the show – now in its final performances – if you haven’t already. Gideon Glick as Jack is the other standout in the show! And Ellen Harvey as Cinderella’s Stepmother was also thoroughly enjoyable. Recast or rethink the Baker and Ridinghood, and send this Woods to Broadway!P. S. If the show does transfer, Leah Loukas deserves a Tony for her inspired wig designs. And Donna Murphy too, of course!
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August 26th, 2012 at 1:18 am
how was Chip Zien at the Mysterious Man because he was originally the baker, so i want to know if you like the new baker more then the original. I didnt see it in central park, i was going to, didnt have the change. so i mean i feel like even though i didnt see it, i think that chip zien is better as the baker. or at leasr keep Bernadette Peters as the which i mean she has aged well so she could have easily pulled it off. i mean guess not to the director though..
August 26th, 2012 at 1:21 am
Maybe look up “ingratiating?”
And by the way, I’m not one of your bashers, but I really don’t understand why you are now giving parenting advice. Absurd. Do you feel another book coming on?
August 26th, 2012 at 1:51 am
Oh my god I couldn’t disagree more!! Amy Adams was fine. Sarah Stiles was absolutely HILARIOUS. The whole theater was cracking up when she was on stage. And Denis O’Hare was an enjoyable constant throughout the show – definitely held his own.
August 26th, 2012 at 2:34 am
A) “We had never seen the Sondheim classic before”
Well since you don’t have any prior knowledge of the music or the characters, you probably can’t really question any of the performer’s character choices.
B) “We probably would have liked it better had it ended at the end of Act 1”
Sometimes productions only do the first act. Children’s productions. If you cut Act 2, you lose the majority of the show’s real depth and emotion.
C) “…though he’s a genius composer and lyricist, he sure loves to be contrarian”
If the show ended at Act 1, it would be a typical fairy tale. The point of the show is what happens AFTER the “happily ever after”. He’s not being contrarian by taking a traditional concept and maturing it.
D) “Amy Adams was more than good”
What. A vocabulary.
August 26th, 2012 at 2:42 am
Are you nuts!? Denis ohare and Sarah stiles were phenomenal! If anything, Amy Adams was mediocre. I will agree, Donna Murphy was shit
August 26th, 2012 at 2:58 am
So let us get this right: Hollywood reject you and you tried selling clothing. That flopped and you tried selling us music, that flopped and you tried radio. That flopped and you tried a tv show, that flopped and now you think you can review theater????
Bwahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhaah thank you for giving this old gal the laugh of her life.