After the almost triumph of the recent "Sweeney Todd" movie, I sat down to have another look at "Into The Woods', which I saw on Broadway the night it was recorded for video, and the bad news is, it's not wearing well, (hisses from the Sondheim fanatics, of which I am usually one).
It is now my opinion that there are several problems with the work as presented on DVD.
The first is that I find Bernadette Peters handling of the role of the witch grossly overplayed and mannered. Having seen both this and Australian cabaret performer Judi Connelli's playing of the role, I found the latter's more subtle playing of the role infinitely preferable, (and indeed the Sydney production with its more inventive and imaginative sets and costumes, as well as the performances, was much better).
The production and performances are not, however, the main problem however ... I think it is the piece itself. There is a boffo start to the first act and the moments leading up to the finale are very moving, first-rate Sondheim, but boy does this show get bogged-down in the middle, and especially in the last act. Dark, dreary and depressing with quite a few moments when the cleverness of the lyrics draws attention to itself, and not in a good way like in "Sweeney" but in a way that reminds me of what some great writer or other once said ..."whenever you write a passage that you tell yourself is especially fine, strike it out!" ... this would avoid lines like "When the end is right, it justifies the beans!" and other infelicities.
Now I have voiced such misgivings about the second act previously, only to be shouted down by the Sondheimites that I don't understand, that I miss the point, that the second act is meant to be dark and gloomy because it is the other side of the fairy-tale ...but I DO understand ... what I object to is that it the central section is musically monotonous, the production is dreary to look at, the book is simplistic and sentimental, (a Sondheim anathema) and ultimately, boring. Great moments like the Princes' "Agony" duet don't quite make up for the gloom.
I admit that I have enjoyed much in this show in the past, (partly the anticipated excitement of seeing a Sondheim musical), especially the innovative Sydney production rather than the rather dull vision presented on the DVD ... but for me, it doesn't stand up to repeated viewings, whereas I could watch any version of "Sweeney Todd" or "Follies in Concert" many times with out any diminishing enjoyment. I still love Sondheim, but not unconditionally.
It is now my opinion that there are several problems with the work as presented on DVD.
The first is that I find Bernadette Peters handling of the role of the witch grossly overplayed and mannered. Having seen both this and Australian cabaret performer Judi Connelli's playing of the role, I found the latter's more subtle playing of the role infinitely preferable, (and indeed the Sydney production with its more inventive and imaginative sets and costumes, as well as the performances, was much better).
The production and performances are not, however, the main problem however ... I think it is the piece itself. There is a boffo start to the first act and the moments leading up to the finale are very moving, first-rate Sondheim, but boy does this show get bogged-down in the middle, and especially in the last act. Dark, dreary and depressing with quite a few moments when the cleverness of the lyrics draws attention to itself, and not in a good way like in "Sweeney" but in a way that reminds me of what some great writer or other once said ..."whenever you write a passage that you tell yourself is especially fine, strike it out!" ... this would avoid lines like "When the end is right, it justifies the beans!" and other infelicities.
Now I have voiced such misgivings about the second act previously, only to be shouted down by the Sondheimites that I don't understand, that I miss the point, that the second act is meant to be dark and gloomy because it is the other side of the fairy-tale ...but I DO understand ... what I object to is that it the central section is musically monotonous, the production is dreary to look at, the book is simplistic and sentimental, (a Sondheim anathema) and ultimately, boring. Great moments like the Princes' "Agony" duet don't quite make up for the gloom.
I admit that I have enjoyed much in this show in the past, (partly the anticipated excitement of seeing a Sondheim musical), especially the innovative Sydney production rather than the rather dull vision presented on the DVD ... but for me, it doesn't stand up to repeated viewings, whereas I could watch any version of "Sweeney Todd" or "Follies in Concert" many times with out any diminishing enjoyment. I still love Sondheim, but not unconditionally.