Genres:
Musical
Theater
Release Date: 06/25/1999
Dubbed: English
Sound: 2
Run Time: 153 min
Distributor/Studio: Image Entertainment
Originally broadcast as part of the
American Playhouse series on
PBS, this video captures a performance by the original cast of the popular Broadway musical. With songs and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim and a book by
James Lapine, who also directed the stage production,
Into the Woods humorously combines a number of classic fairy tales into one over-arching narrative. A baker and his wife are assigned a number of tasks by a nearby witch; only after completing these duties will they be able to give birth. During their quest to fulfill the witches' demands, they encounter
Little Red Riding Hood,
Rapunzel,
Cinderella, and numerous other fairy tale figures. The traditional stories are parodied and altered at will, yet the original fairy tales' sense of wonder and, at times, darkness remains intact. The score, winner of Broadway's Tony Award, includes such songs as
Children Will Listen,
Giants in the Sky, and
No One Is Alone.
~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
Since its Broadway debut,
Into the Woods has become a staple of regional and community theatres around the country. The video translation captures much of the magic of the original production; however, because the stage show was essentially filmed as a stage show, rather than re-imagined for film, there is an inescapable static quality to the proceedings, as well as a "distancing" effect that keeps the viewer from really getting involved with the story. That said, there is still a great deal to recommend the video, especially for theatre enthusiasts.
Stephen Sondheim's glorious score is presented in full, allowing one to enjoy the witty
"Agony," the lovely
"Children Will Listen," the amazing
"Giants in the Sky," and the touching
"No One Is Alone." James Lapine's witty dialogue and intricate plotting are also preserved, though they suffer significantly from the static filming.
Bernadette Peters is a delicious
Witch and
Joanna Gleason a stand-out as
the Baker's Wife.
Gleason uses her wry delivery, guarded warmth, and underlying sense of restlessness to create a fairy tale character with considerable depth.
Ben Wright is a lovably befuddled
Jack and
Danielle Ferland an amusingly tough
Red Riding Hood.
Into the Woods is a valuable record of an important
musical, but it's a shame that such an imaginative
musical did not receive a more imaginative video production.
~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
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