Sondheim: "Into the Woods"

Sondheim ended "Into the Woods" with two big emotional "Hammerstein-adjacent" numbers: "No One Is Alone" and "Children Will Listen." But, as a critic correctly noted, the Baker's meltdown ("No More") is an *additional* part of this ravishing KO in the second act.

I'm also excited to see Sondheim's two "seduction" numbers, "Hello, Little Girl" and "Any Moment." These are variations on a theme, and Sondheim underlines his point by having one actor play both the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince. (It's Gavin Creel this weekend--a worthy castmate for Heather Headley!)

Two young people--Little Red and the Baker's Wife--are maybe a little too happy to stray from their own understanding of what is right. We first see Little Red stealing loaves of bread from a friendly Baker. We also see the Baker's Wife stealing beans, and shrugging: "If the end is right....it justifies the beans!"

The Wolf recognizes Little Red's hunger--and he "grooms" her. "Hello, Little Girl! What's your rush? You're missing all the flowers....The sun won't set for hours.....Take your time!" Later, "Slow, Little Girl! Hark! And hush! The birds are singing sweetly....You'll miss the birds completely.....You're traveling so fleetly...."

Cinderella's Prince has to be a bit craftier. His sentences are wonderfully manipulative. "Any moment, we could be crushed....But don't feel rushed!" Also: "How foolish I am! But....foolishness can happen in the woods...."

Sondheim tends to do his best work when inventing monsters--"Sing out, Louise!"--and I think "Into the Woods" could be Exhibit A....

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