Into The Woods: Part Two!

Breaking news theatre friends: Digital Theatre Plus has a staged version of Into the Woods!! So you know I had to watch it to compare!

First things first, let’s talk about the pacing. I found this version’s pacing was much better, as it moved quickly but not too fast. The extra half an hour in the first act makes the timeline make more sense, as the first act takes place over three days and nights. The extra time in the first act also allowed more time for characters to develop and be explored. The end of the second act did seem to drag a little for me, but only because it is such a long production. 

Friends, the storyline makes so much more sense in this production!! The affair between the Baker’s wife and the Prince makes more practical sense because audiences can see moments of unhappiness in the relationship, which I feel was lacking in the film version. The Prince sings a whole song with his brother about he is not fully content in his life, and the Baker’s wife has a much more heated argument before going in separate directions looking for Jack. The thread of the father looking over and helping his son is also included, so it comes as no surprise in the second act when he talks to his son about staying with his family. The Baker and Rapunzel’s sibling relationship is still not explored like I would like to see it, but this makes sense because, in this production, Rapunzel does not survive for long. Finally, my favourite part of this storyline is that of the narrator being the Baker’s son in the future, and he is recounting the story his father has told him in the very place that it takes place. It adds a sense of closure to the story, and the ending feels much more satisfying now. 

The acting didn’t wow me in any sense, but I didn’t hate it. I liked the Baker in this production much more, and I thought his emotions when he found he had lost his wife and that he realized he would be raising his son alone was very moving. In my dream performance of Into the Woods, the film’s cast would take over in the staged versions story and set. The singing also did not blow me away, but that would be because I am comparing it to a recording studio version, in which the actors had as many takes as they needed to get the desired sound. I have to remember that this was a live performance in which there were no do-overs. 

Finally, the spectacle in this production was excellent. I got my wish of big dance numbers, although I do see that there is not much opportunity for them to occur with this episodic style of storytelling. I thought the set was incredible, and it was so ingenious to have a production of Into the Woods outdoors, seemingly in the woods! The creation and use of the multilevel platforms was genius, and it piqued visual interest. The creative solutions for staging complex plotlines were fantastic. I enjoyed the puppet cow and giant and thought using green umbrellas to create a beanstalk was brilliant! Using a ladder, with Rapunzel’s hair covering it to create the appearance of climbing her hair was also a great idea. The scene with the wolf in granny’s bed was also fantastically staged, with the audience getting a ‘top view’ of the blanket and being able to see Little Red and Granny emerge after being rescued. 

My only critique for the visual aspects of the performance comes from a few weird costume moments. Cinderella’s headphones to me made no sense. In a world that is so clearly taking place before technology, why would Cinderella need headphones? I also was not a fan of the weird googles Prince charming wore on his head. We never once saw him use them, and it is unclear what he would use them for. It made him look more like a mad scientist than a charming prince. Finally, I was confused most of the story with what was going on with the narrator’s costume. He was wearing a suit but also had a hoodie tied around his waist. I am just not sure what the purpose was. 

Overall, I thought it was a fantastic performance, but I couldn’t definitively say which version I liked more than the other. They both impressed me, but in different ways. I liked some scenes from the film even better than the staged version, and others I would rather see the staged version. The performance of “Agony” while splashing dramatically in the waterfall in the film, to me, was better, although I enjoy the singing in the staged version more. “On the Steps of the Palace” and “I Know Things Now,” in my opinion, were also better in the film version, as the technology allowed for more visual interest than the stage could provide for these solo songs. All in all, each version is worth watching, and I suggest you watch both! 

Here is the film version of “Agony” for your enjoyment!

And here is the stage version!