Into The Woods

Grantie · Joined: Feb 13, 2006 Posts: 340

I thought I would start a new topic for Nick's future performance at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in June, when he will be appearing in the Sondheim Musical "Into The Woods".Nick will be playing the roles of the Prince and the Wolf....I think the dates are listed in his concert section on here (If I remember correctly - if not they are on his own website)
I thought we could talk about all things relating to the concert and the music etc on here.
So, who is hoping to go? Who has seen this musical before? Does anyone have a favourite song from it?
I'm not familiar with it, but like a good Garrett Girl, I shall read the book beforehand and possibly watch the DVD or listen to the CD (as recommended by Nick) I will be going to see a performance, but not sure when as I would like to go on a night where lots of other Garrett Girls are going and hopefully meet up with them either before or afterwards. Very Happy

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 552

To get us started, here is some basic information:
Synopsis:Into the Woods combines the well-known fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Ridinghoood with the story of the Baker and his Wife who desperately want a child. Unfortunately, the Baker and his Wife have been cursed with childlessness by a witch and must perform various missions involving the characters in the other fairy tales to break the spell. The Baker and his Wife must bring the witch a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold. After a series of failed attempts, the Baker and his Wife finally are able to perform the tasks necessary to break the spell. Once the characters have accomplished their goals, however, they learn about the pitfalls of greed and gluttony. Finally, they learn about the need for community and family when they must unite to fight against the wife of the giant Jack killed who has decided to come back for revenge.
And since Nick will be Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf...
Characters:
The Baker — An insecure man whom desperately wants a child but due to the Witch's curse, cannot.
Role: LeadAge: 28 - 40Sex: MVoice: Baritone (A2 to G4)Dancing: N/A
The Baker's Wife — A confident and intelligent woman who desperately wants a child but due to the Witch's curse, cannot.
Role: LeadAge: 26 - 38Sex: FVoice: Mezzo (G3 to F5)Dancing: N/A
Cinderella — A young and kind girl who desperately wants to go to the King's Festival but is forced to do chores for her cruel stepmother.
Role: SupportingAge: 17 - 26Sex: FVoice: Soprano (high: G5)Dancing: N/A
Cinderella's Prince — A handsome man who is obsessed with Cinderella. He is the brother of Rapunzel's Prince.
Role: SupportingAge: 23 - 32Sex: MVoice: Baritone (B2 to F4)Dancing: N/A
Jack — A simple milkboy who loves his cow.
Role: SupportingAge: 15 - 24Sex: MVoice: Tenor (A3 to G4)Dancing: N/A
Little Red Ridinghood — A spoiled little girl on the way to see her sick grandmother.
Role: SupportingAge: 8 - 16Sex: FVoice: Mezzo (B3 to F5)Dancing: N/A
Narrator — *Usually played by the same actor who plays the ‘Mysterious Man.'
Role: SupportingAge: Sex: MVoice: Baritone (G3 to E4)Dancing: N/A
Rapunzel — The baker's lost sister who is being held captive by the witch. She spends her days combing her hair.
Role: SupportingAge: 18 - 30Sex: FVoice: Soprano (high: B♭5)Dancing: N/A
Rapunzel's Prince — A handsome man who is obsessed with Rapunzel. He is the brother of Cinderella's Prince.
Role: SupportingAge: 23 - 32Sex: MVoice: Baritone (D♭3 to E4)Dancing: N/A
Stepmother — An evil, yet beautiful woman.
Role: SupportingAge: 40 - 55Sex: MVoice: Mezzo (B♭3 to F5)Dancing: Light
The Witch — An evil and ugly old woman who places a curse on the baker and his wife preventing them from having children. By the end of the show, she has turned into a young and beautiful woman.
Role: SupportingAge: 25 - 99Sex: FVoice: Mezzo (F3 to F5)Dancing: N/A
Wolf — A beast with a huge appetite.
Role: SupportingAge: 25 - 50Sex: MVoice: Baritone (B2 to G♭4)Dancing: N/A
Florinda — Cinderella's lovely but evil stepsister.
Role: CameoAge: 16 - 25Sex: FVoice: Mezzo (high: E5)Dancing: N/A
Jack's Mother — Jack's mother who simply wants gold.
Role: CameoAge: 40 - 55Sex: FVoice: Soprano (high: G♭5)Dancing: N/A
Myserious Man — A man who offers Jack a sack of beans for his cow. He is really the baker's father who the baker had assumed to be dead from a baking accident.
Role: CameoAge: 30 - 60Sex: MVoice: Baritone (G2 to E♭4)Dancing: N/A
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 552

http://www.bway2.com/tracks/itw/index.htm

the above link has music samples for this musical...

enjoy!!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

xantha · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:03 pm Post subject:

Novice, that information is brilliant!
Thanks for that. I am hoping to do a feature article about Into The Woods nearer the time, but this is wonderful to have all this information in advance.I'm sure your fellow Garrett fans will be equally appreciative.

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 371

Oh...Chewy enlightens us with news....hmmmm....Yoda not know much about woods either, news good my hairy friend. Smile

Why did I pick Yoda?? I feel like I'm learning a new language. Confused

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 552

Thank you ladies of the force... I was hoping to start a rather lively discussion about the play so that by the time we get to see it - those of us who may not be able to be there will understand every little detail reported afterwards...of course we can 'drag' Nick through the woods ahead of time too.... that idea with much love I like....that is not how Chewwy would say it now..come to think of it - I think Cheweys form of communication will come in handy - should I get the chance to see Nick in tights... Shocked

hmm have to find discription of costumes now!!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

Grantie · Joined: Feb 13, 2006 Posts: 340

I've found out a bit more about Into the Woods

First a few facts...

Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine,debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch, and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife, brought acclaim to the production during its original Broadway run. Into the Woods won several Tony awards, including Best Score, in a year dominated by The Phantom of the Opera. The Witch has attracted numerous "name" actresses in major productions, including Ellen Foley, Phylicia Rashad, Nancy Dussault, and Vanessa Williams.

Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment, the musical intertwines a collection of uncensored versions of 18th century Brothers Grimm fairy tales. An original story involving a Baker and his Wife's quest to begin a family ties together the stories of Little Red Ridinghood, Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.

Into the Woods opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 5, 1987, and played 804 performances. It starred Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Kim Crosby, Ben Wright, Danielle Ferland, and Robert Westenberg. The original production won the 1988 Drama Critic's Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, and the Original Cast Recording won a Grammy Award.

The show was revived on Broadway in 2002 with Vanessa Williams as the Witch, the recorded voice of Judi Dench as the Giant, and other cast members including John McMartin, Stephen DeRosa, Gregg Edelman, and Christopher Sieber. The plot was retooled, with a subplot added involving The Three Little Pigs restored from the earlier San Diego production. Critics were kind to the show, but loyal fans put it down, stressing that the important adult messages of the original production were now undermined with a seeming sense of flippancy. The revival had a 280-performance run.

Plot summary
Act I

In Act I, the major characters are introduced by the Narrator, along with their respective wishes. Cinderella wishes to attend the King's festival, Jack wishes for his pet cow, Milky-White, to give milk, and the Baker and his Wife wish for a child. Cinderella's Stepsisters mock her desire to attend the ball, and Jack's Mother insists that Jack must sell his beloved cow. The Baker and his Wife are visited by Little Red Ridinghood, who purchases bread to bring to her Granny in the woods. Shortly after, the Witch from next door appears, and informs the Baker and his Wife that she has cursed his lineage with infertility in retaliation for the Baker's father having stolen "greens" from her garden many years ago. The Witch reveals that the Baker's father was fetching greens to satisfy his pregnant wife's cravings. The Witch punished the Baker's parents by claiming the child for her own, a girl who is later revealed to be Rapunzel. The Baker's father also stole magic beans from the Witch's garden, and it is for this crime that she cursed his lineage. The Witch grants them a way to reverse their barren fate, sending them into the forest to fetch four ingredients for a certain potion: "The cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold". They spend the rest of Act I on a quest to locate these items.

Meanwhile, Cinderella and Rapunzel are each pursued by a Prince; a Mysterious Man roams the woods, harassing Jack and the Baker; and Little Red Ridinghood encounters a seemingly-friendly Wolf on the path to Granny's. The Wolf persuades Little Red Ridinghood to tarry on her way, and he races ahead to her Granny's house. The Baker and his Wife encounter Jack, and persuade him to trade his cow in exchange for the magic beans stolen from the Witch. The Baker also encounters Little Red Ridinghood, and after she refuses to give him her cape, he attempts to steal it, but is rebuffed by her loud tantrum. Little Red Ridinghood reaches her destination to find her Granny has been replaced and devoured by the Wolf, who then eats her. Fortunately, the Baker is at hand, and kills the wolf, freeing Little Red Ridinghood and her Granny. In exchange for rescuing her, Little Red Ridinghood gives the Baker her red cloak. Jack's Mother throws away the magic beans, which grow into a large beanstalk. Jack then climbs the beanstalk, retrieving many riches from the home of the Giants. Eventually he cuts down the beanstalk, killing the Giant. The Baker's Wife encounters Cinderella, who is attempting to escape from the Prince. She notices Cinderella's golden slippers, eventually persuading Cinderella to part with them. She also encounters Rapunzel's Prince visiting her tower, and by observing him, learns the secret of retrieving Rapunzel's corn-yellow hair. After escaping with a section of the hair, she reunites with her husband, and with some difficulty the potion is created, the spell is lifted. The Mysterious Man is revealed to be the Baker's father, who then dies, and the Witch regains the youth and beauty that she lost on the night that the beans were stolen from her, but at the cost of losing her powers. Cinderella and Rapunzel eventually get their Princes, Jack gets his cow back, and the Act ends with everyone elated at the granting of their wishes, with the exception of Cinderella's Stepsisters, who have been blinded by birds.

Act II

In Act II, sheer fairy-tale chaos ensues. The wife of the slain Giant is rampaging the land, searching for Jack. She storms through the Baker's village, destroying the Witch's garden. Little Red Ridinghood arrives at the Baker's house shortly thereafter, announcing that her mother was killed when their house was destroyed. The Witch, young and beautiful again, but lacking her former powers, joins with them to search the forest and stop the Giantess. Jack, too, sets off, as he feels responsible for the onset of terror. Cinderella, who has found contentment with the Prince, learns from the birds that something has happened to her mother's grave, and she goes to investigate. All the characters are once again out in the woods, but for a different purpose: this journey is motivated by a desire to repair damage done by the original, selfish wishes. Gradually, each character realizes that wishes made for one's own purpose and benefit quickly turn against expectations.

Lack of unity amongst the characters causes several violent and unexpected deaths. Rapunzel is crushed by the Giantess after she runs towards her in hysterics of postpartum depression after bearing twins to her Prince. Jack's Mother is killed by a blow to the head from the royal Steward, who is attempting to stop her from further angering and antagonizing the Giantess. Even the Narrator is pulled into the story and thrown to the Giantess. Cinderella's Father, Stepmother, Stepsisters, and the Steward, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack, the Witch, the Baker, and his Wife huddle together for safety. The royal family leaves, claiming to know a far away kingdom to escape to. Meanwhile, the two Princes, who seemingly should be working to save everyone, are instead singing of two new women whom they wish to pursue, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

The survivors consider their options, deciding to split up in order to search for Jack. The Baker's Wife encounters Cinderella's Prince, who seduces her. Shortly after he leaves, she is crushed to death by a falling tree knocked astray by the Giantess. All reconvene, quickly discovering their diminishing numbers. A fight ensues, each attempting to place blame on anyone but themselves. Eventually, they decide that the Witch is to blame, for raising the beans that grew the beanstalk to the Giants' world. The Witch, after chastising them for being unable to accept that they are all responsible, disappears in a puff of smoke, and leaves them alone as her final curse. The Baker, overcome with grief, leaves Little Red, Cinderella, and Jack and tries to run away from the woes of the Woods. He encounters the ghost of his father, who explains how life becomes even harder when you run. With renewed resolve, the Baker finds the rest of the group again.

With only Jack, Little Red Ridinghood, Cinderella, the Baker, and his child left alive, they concoct a scheme to slay the Giantess, using what they have learned in their journey. Little Red Riding Hood spreads pitch on the ground to trap the Giantess, as the Prince had done to Cinderella on the stairs at the ball. Jack waits with the Baker in a tree with a club, as he had done to kill the Giantess's husband. While waiting for the Giantess to return, Little Red and Jack realize that they are alone; their mothers are both dead. The Baker and Cinderella comfort the two children with the essential thesis of the show: no one is alone. When the Giantess comes looking for Jack, Little Red Ridinghood calls attention to herself, sending the Giantess toward Jack's supposed hiding place. Cinderella stands by with the Baker's child and calls to her bird friends, who peck out the Giantess's eyes, and Jack slays her. In the end, they resolve to make a new life, void of violence and selfishness, but remain haunted by the memories of their loved ones. It seems that everyone has learned that wishes can be dangerous. However, after the very last note, Cinderella steps forward from the ensemble and sings "I Wish!", indicating that humanity may be unable to exist apart from its dreams and wishes.

Dramatics
In most productions of Into the Woods, including the original Broadway production, Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf, who share the characteristic of being unable to control their appetites Wink

, are played by the same actor (In our Case, Nick Garrett ). Similarly, the Narrator and the Mysterious Man, who share the characteristic of commenting on the story while avoiding any personal involvement or responsibility, are played by the same actor. The Wolf and the Mysterious Man are more primal exemplars of these attributes, while the Prince and the Narrator put a more respectable face on them. This technique was also featured in theatrical productions of Peter Pan (in which Mr. Darling and Captain Hook are traditionally played by the same actor, highlighting the similarities and differences in the central role each plays in the children's lives). It's also seen in The Wizard of Oz.

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 552

I copied the entire Prologue to the topic on Nicks site...do you all want to go through the same process on here?
I will let you all decide although I think it will be really fun walking through this entire musical step by step...
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

xantha · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject:

You could just add a link to the page on Nick's site Novice,as it might save you a bit of time. It is fun learning all about the musical though and I'm sure it will make it all the more enjoyable when you do go and see the show. I am hoping to get to see it myself at some point but June is a busy month for me with various concerts so I'll have to see how it goes.

Nadia · Joined: Feb 23, 2006 Posts: 86

Just to let everyone over here know we will undoubtedly be organising a VIP meet and greet during the run of INTO THE WOODS. All details will be posted once we have found a suitable date and venue to hold this in and once we know more about Nick's schedule.

I think that this 'meet and greet' will be a very special one with so many new converts over at NICK's site.

Thanks as ever Xantha for supporting Nick and to everyone at Classical X too - we hope you'll all be coming along !

Nadia

xantha · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:20 am Post subject:

Thanks for the good news there Nadia, I'm sure there will be lots of Garrett Girls and Guys booking up to go - especially if there is to be a Meet and Greet as well.
I shall definitely be there at some point too. Very Happy

xantha · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:20 am Post subject:

News from Nick himself (over on his website - see Valentine's Message on Announcements section) Into The Woods will be going to Manchester following its run at The Royal Opera House in London. As soon as dates have been confirmed I will add to Nick's Concert listings.Hopefully,those who can't make it to London will be able to go to Manchester - or maybe, you could do both! Very Happy

Connie · Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 371

I wish I could do one... If I lived in London I would definitely do as amy as I could. Smile

novice · Joined: Feb 12, 2006 Posts: 552

If I do get to go to London -- I might be able to mix it with a visit...depending on when I get to go...
my time off has been approved for end of June into July...
I still need that little miracle though to be able to do it!
_________________
Music Speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it Rest, Heals the Heart and makes it whole - Flows from the heavens to the Soul!

Grantie · Joined: Feb 13, 2006 Posts: 340

I think I'll be going to the London production at least twice and then hopefully getting a big group together to go to Manchester. A lot of friends are aware of Nick because I go on about him all the time, they keep saying that if he ever performed locally that they would go and see him, so I'm going to hold them to their word. I think its great that they have now added Manchester as a further venue for the show - it gives more people a chance to see Nick perform.