Who is familiar with Sondheim's "Into the Woods"?

[Doran]

I'm curious how you like(d) this production. Our local high school recently took this on as their spring musical and did a very good job, especially considering the difficulty of the material. In response, I got a friend to get the dvd of this show (w/ Bernadette Peters) through her Netflix account, and the kids and I watched it yesterday afternoon followed by reviews of selected songs this morning. I gotta tell you -- I *really* like this show. A lot!! But, I get the idea that you either love Sondheim or not. Am I right? I have not seen any of his other work.

Doran

[Sara R]

This soundtrack was one of my and my roommate's favorites when I was in college. My kids like it now. I saw it in person a couple of times, and it cracked me up to see that some people in the audience thought it was over after act 1. There would be empty seats during act 2.

I think it's thought provoking as well. I have my (Christian content) theories on the meaning of the 2nd act.

[Rhondabee]

She was good....

But the best - I still get chills! - is when you are sitting there in the middle of all this wonderful music, in a whirlwind of activity and voices, and then the music is suddenly over and the stage is immediately void and there's Jack right there in front of you (how did he get there???) singing, "There are gi-ants in the sky."

Oh, we'll have to go buy a VCR at Goodwill and re-watch it tonight!

Rhonda

[Audrey]

Sunday in the Park with George. Best. Sondheim. Evah!
Very, very close second is Into the Woods. I love it, but I love Sondheim, period.

[Doran]

But the best - I still get chills! - is when you are sitting there in the middle of all this wonderful music, in a whirlwind of activity and voices, and then the music is suddenly over and the stage is immediately void and there's Jack right there in front of you....

Well, there's not much hope for chills from watching it on t.v. The electricity in a live performance is unmatchable, imho. But, it's better than nothing. I enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking of buying the soundtrack, or at least a few of the songs (wonder if they're available on iTunes...I'll have to go look).

Doran

[*anj*]

Well, judging from my sig line, I guess you could say I love it.
It is probably my favorite Sondheim show, although I love Company and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I think that ITW is my favorite. But don't forget Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, and Sunday in the Park with George.

So hard to choose.
But yes, please buy the soundtrack. And learn it well. And then come here to NJ and go out to dinner with my friend Pam and I. We were roommates in college and learned ITW during our junior year and can have whole conversations with lines from that libretto. We can use that and Les Miserables to tell the entire story of our lives, the tragedies and the joys.

Can you tell that I love musicals?
Even those that I haven't seen onstage I learn through the soundtracks. Love them. And Sondheim is a particular favorite.

[Doran]

Well, judging from my sig line, I guess you could say I love it.

It is probably my favorite Sondheim show, although I love Company and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I think that ITW is my favorite. But don't forget Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, and Sunday in the Park with George.

So hard to choose.
But yes, please buy the soundtrack. And learn it well. And then come here to NJ and go out to dinner with my friend Pam and I. We were roommates in college and learned ITW during our junior year and can have whole conversations with lines from that libretto. We can use that and Les Miserables to tell the entire story of our lives, the tragedies and the joys.

Can you tell that I love musicals?
Even those that I haven't seen onstage I learn through the soundtracks. Love them. And Sondheim is a particular favorite.


I never got far enough down into your sig line to recognize it's origin (and up until recently, didn't "hear" the song when reading those fabulous lyrics. AND....I didn't remember that West Side Story was Sondheim (which I have seen and love) nor A Funny Thing Happened. Gad! I'm so forgetful! As for that invitation to come to NJ and hang with you and your friend Pam, "I wish..." That sounds like it's precisely the kind of evening I would love most. :D

Doran

[HeatherH]

We went to see this in college. I loved it, and would love to see it again!

But - now here's my true confession -

I wish it stopped after the first act! Sigh - I'm such an optimist/hopeless romantic! ;)

[WTMindy]

I think it is Sondheim's best, and yes, it is difficult. I played Cinderella in a couple of the songs when I was in college for a musical review we did. Very fun stuff!! I love the music and Bernadette is the BOMB as the witch!!

[*anj*]

I just love Bernadette Peters. She has such an amazing voice. And she can be really funny too.

She played Karen's sister on the second to last episode of Will and Grace. She was a riot, perfectly cast.

[*anj*]

I never got far enough down into your sig line to recognize it's origin (and up until recently, didn't "hear" the song when reading those fabulous lyrics. AND....I didn't remember that West Side Story was Sondheim (which I have seen and love) nor A Funny Thing Happened. Gad! I'm so forgetful! As for that invitation to come to NJ and hang with you and your friend Pam, "I wish..." That sounds like it's precisely the kind of evening I would love most. :D

Doran

"I wish..." too. That's one of my favorite ways to spend an evening as well. :cool:

[*anj*]

Don't you all just love those little one liners that the characters say while singing "Into the Woods"?

Lines like:
"The closer to the family the closer to the wine."

"The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure!"

"Slotted spoons don't hold much soup."

"Sometimes the things you most wish for are not to be touched."

"The prettier the flower, the farther from the path."

"Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor"

"You may know what you need but to get what you want better see that you keep what you have."

Okay, I'll stop now. I have to go find that cd.

[Doran]

Don't you all just love those little one liners that the characters say while singing "Into the Woods"?



That's one of the best things -- all the witicisms sprinkled throughout the show. I just can't remember them as well as you! Does the cd include them all, or just the songs "proper"?

Doran