Into the Woods

See Larger Image	Manufacturer: RCA Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0828766863628 Format: Soundtrack Label: RCA Manufacturer: RCA Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: RCA Release Date: 2007-05-28 Running Time: 76 Studio: RCA
Related Items Sweeney Todd Stephen Sondheim - Sunday In The Park With George [1984] Stephen Sondheim - Into The Woods (NTSC) Merrily We Roll Along A Little Night Music
Editorial Reviews: As conceived by Stephen Sondheim and cocreator James Lapine (following their Pulitzer Prize-winning Sunday in the Park with George), Into the Woods tells the intricate tale of multiple fairy-tale characters crossing paths in the woods, not merely resolving the characters' dilemmas but also exploring what happens after happily ever after. Sondheim's chamber-scale music, recipient of the 1987 Tony for Best Score, is one of his most beautiful and accessible, and is at its most poignant in "No More", "No One Is Alone" and "Children Will Listen". The original Broadway cast is outstanding top to bottom, most notably Bernadette Peters as a rapping witch and Joanna Gleason, who won a Tony for Best Actress. The CD booklet includes production photos and--so important for a Sondheim show--full lyrics. Fortunately, this cast was also captured on video and DVD. --David Horiuchi
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Sondheim - An American Genius Comment: Just a quick comment to the reviewers who object to the American accents on this recording. Sondheim is American, and 'Broadway' is American. This is a Broadway cast recording of a Sondheim musical. How strage to object to something about this recording which is inherant to it's source! Can you imagine ojecting to the British accents in an RSC production of Hamlet? How bizarre! This is a brilliant recording of a brilliant show. If you prefer Andrew Lloyd-Weber, then you deserve him. Customer Rating: Summary: Children will listen and so should you Comment: Sondheim 1987 classic is one of his most intricate and yet accessable musicals, if only because we are familiar with most of the characters from our childhood fairy tales. What seems like a fairly straightforward story in Act 1, the weaving of a number of classic fairy tales through a story of a childless baker and his wife, becomes in Act 2 a much darker and ultimately poignant play with some salutory lesson on how sometimes wishing for things doesn't always bring happiness. While the soundtrack does not give the full story it does contain some of Sondheim must lyrical songs and some of his cleverest lyrics (listen to both version of Agony a few times!). Personal favourites among the songs are 'No More' and 'No One Is Alone' (probably because I got to sing both of them in an amateur production as The Baker), but most of the music is wonderful and easy to listen to. A number of reviewers have been annoyed by the American accents on the soundtrack. Personally I don't have any such problems with this and I don't think it takes from what is a superb soundtrack. Customer Rating: Summary: Into the Woods Comment: This is one of those musicals that not that many people on this side of the Atlantic have heard of, and, when you initially hear what it's about, you tend to be dubious. That, at least, was my reaction when I volunteered to help out with an amateur production and was told what the show would be. Now, having been the assistant producer and as such both flogged tickets and sat through endless rehearsals, it's an amazing show with fabulous music. From the beautiful and poignant Act 2 Finale 'Children Will Listen' to the recurring theme track 'Into The Woods', which has a more upbeat tempo, this is a musical you will enter into with trepidation but, once into the songs and the story, will realise that had you passed it by, you would have regretted it. Customer Rating: Summary: "THE" Sondheim Play Comment: Into the Woods is Sondhiem's most unapriciated plays/musicals of all time. It has a cunning plot that twists and turns and does not fail to entertain. But we're not here to discuss the plot. We're here for Lapine's musical skill. As you are here on the UK version of Amazon, I can only say that firstly, you will be annoyed by the American accents!! I was, and still am, but you learn to cope with it. Secondly however, the main point, the music is a prime example of the Musicals atmosphere!! Ok, reasons for and against buying it: 1) You love the play, you've been in it, or seen it etc.. and so therefore it's a must for your collection, 2) As Soundtracks go it isn't amazing if you havn't seen the play, so my advice is see the show, NOW, before you buy it. 3)Hey, look at that wad of notes in your pocket, why not buy this CD, it's a prime example of a dark comic musical. The reason I like this so much is that I've starred in it as the wolf, and so I'm Biased. It is a good romp, but it does not live up to the playt itself. If you havn't seen the show itself, then save your money and go to the theatre, then come back and buy it,..... ........three times if needs be!!! More Reviews