Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
#1Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:18amJust curious, I haven't heard the recording, all i saw was the youtube video of it at the Tony's and it was a bit...erm different but was it bad?
#2re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:21amIf the cast recording is an accurate reflection of the live show, then yeah, the revival must have been disastrous.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#2re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:23am
Two words.
Vanessa Williams.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
#3re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:24amooh haha well Vanessa Williams was that bad? im gonna have to find that recording
LadyRosecoe
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/07
#4re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:25amAlthough I'd prefer seeing the original version of "On the Steps of the Palace," it certainly is interesting to hear the revised ending on the recording. Altough I do think Crosby nails the humor delicately and has a fantastic, perhaps definitive take, Benanti does sound wonderful in her own right!
#5re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:26am
I thought it was magical.
I am in the minority it seems.
Jesus saves. I spend.
#6re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:26amA lot of people don't like Disney. The show to me had a Disney look to it.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
#7re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:26amhmmm welllll does anyone have the revival recording?
#8re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:26amIt just wasn't good. I left thinking, "Stephen Sondheim liked THIS?" It just wasn't good at all.
#9re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:27amPLEASE. Vanessa was not the problem. She got good reviews, and was nominated for a Tony.
#10re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:29amNo she wasn't. The terrible people in the cast were the two who played the Baker and the Baker's Wife. God, did I miss Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason!
#11re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:30amThat doesn't mean anything to me.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
#12re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:30am
You can't blame Williams for the entire production. Lapine did pretty much bad casting all the way around. He also didn't seem to have anything new to add to what he had originally done... and subsequently took a major leap backwards.
There was a sadness to the entire production... I don't know if we were still reeling from 9-11.. but the show wasn't fun, moving or very engaging.
Also.. it was a little too "pretty" for my taste. Who knows...
I'd love to hear what MargoChanning and/or MichaelBennett has to say..or had to say on the subject. They usually astonishingly insightful.
What great ones do the less will prattle of
#13re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:31am
Over the Moon I'm going to PM you with something helpful to you.
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
#14re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:33amI'll agree that it was too pretty. And I'll also agree with the 9/11 comment too.
#15re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:35am
I think Williams was a good choice for the Witch. She is no Peters but she sounds fine on the recording. Unfortunately, Sondheim changed the lyrics to what IMO is the best song the Witch gets in the show, "Last Midnight," the new lyrics are soooo boring and unnecessary.
I LOATHE the new ending to "On the Steps of the Palace," can't stand listening to it AT ALL, mostly because I think Molly Ephrain and Adam Wylie made an awful Little Red/Jack pairing.
Benanti sounds great in the song, but Kim Crosby gets every nuance, comic detail, and torment implied by the song. She may not have the impressive vocal talents of Benanti, but she certainly acts the song a dozen times better(and I'm a fan of Laura Benanti).
And don't get me started on the Baker and the Baker's Wife. Ugh!
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#16re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:35amIt would have been better if she did it in white face.
LadyRosecoe
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/07
#17re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:36amOh God, those were the days!
#18re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:37amI hated the changed Sondheim made to the score too. They really cheapened it in my opinion. However, John McMartin was, as always, excellent.
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piperlacyboo
Understudy Joined: 12/31/07
#19re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:38amJoanna Gleason in that role was perfection.
#20re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:39amShe really was. One of the best performances I've ever seen. Stole the show from Bernadette completely.
#21re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:42am
To answer the original question and title of the thread: December 29, 2002.
http://ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=4753
Updated On: 1/21/08 at 12:42 AM
#22re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:57amHow does a date answer the question WHY?
Who says four chairs and a keyboard can't make a musical?
Urban
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
#23re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 1:50am
There where a few good things about the production and OCR that I thought, and Vanessa Williams I thought was one of them.
But there where so many horrid things with it as well. Especially the phoned in performances of the Baker and Baker's Wife. It actually makes me appriciate the effort Joanna Gleeson must of gone too!
#24re: Why did the last revival of Into The Woods close?
Posted: 1/21/08 at 2:20am
Why did Vanessa Williams leave the production a week before closing?
And why did this production win Best Revival over the glorious OKLAHOMA! revival?
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
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