Composer - Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics - Stephen Sondheim
Opened - 1987
Main characters - Baker, Bakers wife, Cinderella, the Witch, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood, 2 Princes

Plot - Into the Woods is set in magical world of Witches, Princes and Giants. The story starts with lots of the characters having wishes. Cinderella wishes to go to the King's festival, Jack wishes that the cow Milky White will give some milk so that she won't have to be sold. The Baker and his wife wish for a child. It turns out that the Witch who lives next door to them put a curse on their house a long time ago when the Bakers father stole some magic beans from her garden. She tells them that they can reverse the curse by getting her some ingredients for a potion that will turn her young again. Little Red Riding Hood wants to take some bread to her Granny who is sick. The story really begins with all the main characters having to go into the woods. The woods are a place where the characters don't want to stay longer than they have to for it contains wolves and other evils, and so they all plan to be home before dark. I won't say exactly how but the first half ends with all the characters achieving their goals.

In the second half disaster strikes. Jack had sold Milky White to the Baker for the magic beans and these had grown beanstalks into the land of the giants in the clouds. Jack had killed the male giant by chopping down the beanstalk and now the female giant has come down to take vengeance. Many of the characters are killed. The witch disappears and leaves just the Baker, Cinderella, Jack and Little Red Riding Hood to face the giant. They manage to slay the giant, and the musical ends with the message that the woods represent the journey through life, and that noone is alone on this journey.

Songs (With marks out of 10) -

1.Once upon a time (10)
2.Cinderella (10)
3.Jack, Jack, Jack (9)
4.Witch's entrance (8)
5.Into the woods (10)
6.Hello, little girl (9)
7.I guess this is goodbye (10)
8.Maybe they're magic (8)
9.Our little world (9)
10.I know things now (8)
11.A very nice Prince (9)
12.Giants in the sky (10)
13.Agony (10)
14.It takes two (10)
15.Stay with me (10)
16.On the steps of the palace (9)
17.Ever after (9)
18.So happy (9)
19.Any moment (9)
20.Moments in the woods (8)
21.Your fault (9)
22.Last midnight (10)
23.No more (10)
24.Noone is alone (10)
25.Children will listen (10)

(Average - 9.32, Overall score - 376)

Favourite song - It takes two

Favourite character - Little Red Riding Hood

Favourite lines -

"The way is clear, the light is good. I have no fear nor noone should. The woods are just trees. The trees are just wood. I sorta hate to ask it, but do you have a basket?"
- LRRH, preparing for her journey to grandmother's house, 'Into the woods'

"There's no possible way to describe how you feel when you're talking to your meal!"
- The wolf, after meeting the 'tasty' LRRH.

"Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you, noone leaves for good. You are not alone, noone is alone."
- Cinderella, comforting LRRH after her mother has died, 'No One is alone'

Comment - I just had to get Into the Woods when I heard about it, the idea of a fairytale musical was irresistable! The first time I heard it I was very disappointed, none of the music really stood out. But now I just adore it. I think that a fairytale musical could be done better, but this is really enchanting once you've got used to it. There are many cool songs, and I love nearly all of the characters. A lot of the music has a magical fairytale quality about it, and I would absolutey love to see a film made of this.