Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4704 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-04-10
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 153 minutes

Synopsis
Featuring a score and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. A Tony Award-winning musical, 'Into The Woods' provides lessons in life courtesy of the fantasy worlds conjured up by fairytales. It tells the story of a childless couple who embark on a fairy tale romp in search of relief from a curse which has kept the stork from visiting them. 'Into The Woods' is appealing to people of all ages and interests with its witty catchy music, and dramatic fairy tale narrative. The tracklist includes 'Children Will Listen' and 'No One Is Alone'.

Customer Reviews

If You Go Into The Woods.
I first saw this on television when I was a little girl, and to this day I still love this fantastic musical. This musical is very clever when all the fairytale characters bump into each other (some flirt with each other) This is by far the best musical Steven Sondheim (apart from Sweeney Todd)I have thoroughly enjoyed. All the songs are fab especially Children Will Listen. Bernadette Peters has a beautiful voice and to me, she steals every scene she is in. If you love going to see shows, you will not be disappointed by this excellent D.V.D. I give this production 10/10 it's that good.

Unmissable
Many of you will be thinking "I've never heard of that musical before?" The truth is, not many people have. I was lucky enough to be introduced to this musical during my time at university. I was asked to be the musicial director for a production that the drama society was staging. The musical was 'Into the Woods'. With 'West Side Story' being one of my favourite musicals of all time, I had no idea what Sondheim had in store for me with this effort. I was to be pleasantly surprised.

The story of the musical follows much the same path as the music itself; both simplistic and complex at the same time. At times, you feel that the texture of the music is far too thin to support some of the musical numbers, but Sondheim has a way of making even the simplest of parts throughly enjoyable and engaging.

James Lapine must also be given a tremendous amount of credit for the simply astonishing way that he intergrates a number of different fairy tales in to one story. Whilst conveying a story with huge amounts of humour and character, he is also able to establish a serious undertone that gives the musical an educational value as well as an entertainment one.

And in this version, the star of the show is Bernadette Peters. The talent that this woman exudes is nothing short of miraculous. She is able to be vile and beautiful without losing any of the characters defining characteristics, and convincingly nails each of her challenging musical numbers with great ease and conviction.

The clinching point for me is that, even though the story is based and a number of different fairy tales, there is so much entertainment value for adults as well. I find it impossible to think that anyone who watches this production will be any less than spellbound by its brilliance.

Undiscovered magic?
Anyone who likes musicals is usually aware of the incomparable talent of STephen SOndheim - West Side STory, SUnday in the park with George to name but a few. Into the woods is in many ways his masterpiece - a wonderful blend of original narrative, extraordinary songs and a cast of musical talent so sublime that it is impossible to find a weakness in this glorious ensemble.
The first act revovlves around a series of popular fairy stories (Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the BEanstalk) that all become interlinked when a baker and his wife journey into the woods motivated by the promise of a child by the Wicked Witch.
The second act takes it a step further and asks the question - what happens after happily after? As you would expect from Sondheim, it veers into darkness at times but the comic relief is always lingering there keeping the audience engaged and entertained.
Bernadette Peters shines in a part that asks her to be ugly and beautiful and take on some dizzyingly tricky songs that leave you assured of the vitality of this womens monstrous talent. (One song - Children Will Listen is regularly included as part of Barbra Streisands repertoire - a clue to the quality of the songs here).
I guarantee that at the end of watching this you will be delighted by its mixture of emotion and sparkling wit and probably ask yourself why this particular show hasn't had the recognition it clearly deserves.
Take a walk Into the Woods and discover the magic for yourself ..........