Isaac5855 INTO THE WOODS is a musically intricate and enchanting musical from the man who brought us COMPANY,A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC,FOLLIES, Sunday IN THE PARK WITH GEOGRE and SWEENEY TODD. Sondheim, Broadway's finest lyricist, has once again struck gold with this clever and complex story that incorporates characters from several different classic fairy tales in a mystical blend that might make the Brothers Grimm roll over in their graves but will leave fans of this musical genius clamoring for more. This musical follows the adventures of a poor Baker and his wife, who want to have a child more than anything and are promised a child by an evil witch, with secrets of her own, if they can bring her Little Red Riding Hood's Cape, Cinderella's slipper, the cow belonging to Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame and a lock of Rapunzel's hair and it is their journey into the fairy tale forest to find these items that provides the plot for this delightfully imaginative musical. As always, Sondheim has provided us with lush melodies and intricate musical arrangements where characters sing on top of each other and it is virtually impossible to catch everything that is being sung, but for us Sondheim-aholics, this is half the fun, requiring careful attention and multiple viewings. This DVD is a taping of a performance by the original Broadway cast, led by the divine Bernadette Peters as the Witch. Hidden behind heavy makeup for the first act, Peters proves to be a gifted actress as well as the consummate song stylist. Peters stops the show with "Children Will Listen" and "Last Midnight". Joanna Gleason won a Tony for her effervescent turn as the Baker's wife and Chip Zien is beautifully paired with her as the Baker. There are also outstanding supporting performances from Robert Westenberg in two roles as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince, Danielle Ferland as Little Red Riding Hood, Kim Crosby as Cinderella, and Ben Wright as Jack. Other musical highlights include "Agony" a funny yet melodic duet between the two princes, "On the Steps of the Palace" sung by Cinderella, "Hello Little Girl", the musical meeting between Red Riding Hood and the Wolf" and Gleason's show stopping "Moments in the Woods". A thoroughly original and lushly theatrical musical that provides another testament to the genius that is Stephen Sondheim.

bradjanet 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.

Oliver Page I've loved this since i was a kid. the concept is great and so are the songs. Placiong together stories and characters for various fairy tales and creating something completely new to me is just genius. Some of the characters are hilarious and others are really believable such as the wolf and Prince charming. The songs are also brilliantly written and performed. One of the main strengths of this show was that everybody could act well and sing better. My personal favourites are the two songs done by the two princes 'Agony'. And of course the song sung by the Wolf when hes planning his evil idea for Red Riding Hood, 'that kind of scrumptious delectable feast twice in one day...there's no possible way...to describe how you feel...when your talking to your meal!!!'. Anyway back to the original point this show is amazing and really worth watching, and also don't write it off as a silly kids show because most of the jokes and quirky remarks are written for adults.

goldoro99 "Into the Woods" never became the stuff of legend like "Hair" or "West Side Story", and it never became a commercial blockbuster like practically every Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Perhaps this is because of its length--three hours, on average--perhaps because of the fairy-tales-go-to-hell subject matter. People don't usually like to see what happens after "happily ever after," but it's one of the most cogent and powerful lessons of "Into the Woods," the best of all Broadway musicals. It's comical, serious, joyous, poignant, mystical, accessible, you name it. It's got an intricate plot, complex and sympathetic characters, and the most rich and rapturous score ever to grace the professional stage. Thank you so much, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, for this wonderful gift.