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 enlarge | Artists: Stephen Sondheim, Vanessa Williams, John Mcmartin, Gregg Edelman, Stephen Derosa, Laura Benanti, Christopher Sieber
Label: Nonesuch
Category: Music
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $6.25
You Save: $13.73 (69%)
New (25) Used (19) Collectible (2) from $6.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  87 reviews
Sales Rank: 30229
Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 79686
UPC: 075597968620
EAN: 0075597968620
ASIN: B000067G5Z
Release Date: June 25, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 86-87 of 87 | | « PREV 1 ... | | |
 Oh Steve, if it ain't broke... June 26, 2002
24 out of 33 found this review helpful
I occasionally teach a high school class on Stephen Sondheim, and it begins with "Into the Woods". I am a tremendous admirer of the piece and the original version in which the cast created such memorable, fresh, and remarkable performances that the revival had two options: 1 - Recreate the original and risk becoming a caricature or imitation or 2 - Try to reinvent the piece with new interpretations on the lines and the songs.
This revival chose road #2, and the problem is that the original interpretations and characters were so definitive that this revival becomes incredibly muddled and, well, ordinary in its endeavor to be different.
Vanessa Williams is weak here because she never lets go of her personal essence for the sake of a character. In her endeavor not to sound silly or ridiculous as the Witch, she ends up sounding silly and ridiculous as herself - especially in the opening scene. (But hey, it was almost LuPone, so I guess we should be thankful)
I have been an admirer of Gregg Edelman since "City of Angels", but Gregg, who let you say "You're travelin' so fleetly"? And Gregg, you need a singing partner in "Agony" who is worthy of singing with you.
The Little Red is charming here, and is also played by a little girl. Her innocence and sweetness offer some beautiful recordings, but are inconsistent with the character.
Jack's voice is nice, but it is not legitimate and it's a little strange. In fact, many of the leads and most of the ensemble have a bizarre weak quality to their voices which leaves the ensemble numbers kind of flat.
Cinderella is excellent, and is the only one to hold her own against her counterpart in the original by creating something new, workable, and well performed.
The Baker is fine, and his wife is a wonderful and sweet soprano. However, the urgency, subversiveness, and grit of Johanna Gleason's performance is not here and necessary for the character, I feel.
I guess, on that note, I should say that this recording is fine, and that those who are a fan of the work will find things to love about it. It is worth having, but I guess for me, the glue that holds "Into the Woods" together is it's cleverness - and clever this ain't.
 Into the Woods (2002 Broadway Revival Cast) June 25, 2002
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
BUY THIS CD!! It is defiantly worth it. With all of the publicity surrounding this revival, and this Tony Award winning cast lead by Vanessa Williams and John McMartin, it is an amazing soundtrack.
This recording is inventively done and defiantly breathes new life into this score. The new additions on this recording are the first American recording of "Our Little World", a duet between Rapunzel (Melissa Dye)and the Witch (Vanessa Williams). I would have bought the recording just for this song. The new version of "Hello, Little Girl" is now sung by both wolves to Ridinghood, preserved on this recording along with many other tweaks to the score.
Williams and McMartin are absolutely fabulous, breathing new life into there performances, as well is veteran actress Laura Benanti, Kerry O'Malley and Gregg Edelmann. While newcomers Adam Wylie and Molly Ephraim give a different twist on there characters, and are very entertaining to listen to,
the performance of Marylouise Burke is the biggest letdown on this recording.
While this recording is nothing like the original headed by Bernadette Peters, I think it is defiantly worth the chance because of the additional material by Steven Sondheim and Jonathan Tunick.
Thanks for reading, and buy this CD!
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