| Titles | Artists | Composers | Broadway | Opera | Home |
Into the Woods
Original Broadway Cast
Starring Bernadette Peters, Johanna Gleason, Chip Zien
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
19 Tracks
Read an off-site Synopsis of the show on Musicals.Net.
I love Into the Woods! The music is great, and the lyrics are incredibly well-written and witty. Also, as a side note, definitely check out the video (I think there's a DVD, too) of this show's OBC. Fantastic! Anyway, I'm supposed to be reviewing the CD. But where do I start?
The performances on this CD are superb. Bernadette Peters makes a great witch. She's so… witchy? I don't know – the point is she's very funny. Chip Zien is great as the Baker. He doesn't have a particularly great voice, but it's pretty good. And more to the point, it really fits his role – it's just the sort of voice the Baker should have. He sings very well. I love Joanna Gleason as the Baker's Wife. The Tony award she won for this role is definitely deserved. She has a beautiful voice, and pulls the role off perfectly.
Kim Crosby is another favorite as Cinderella. What an actress… I am never going to be able to read or watch any other version of the Cinderella story without picturing Kim Crosby. She gives the character such depth and personality! And a lovely voice. How on earth did she keep the lyrics to "On the Steps of the Palace" straight every night?
Robert Westenberg is excellent as both the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince… and I love Chuck Wagner as Rapunzel's Prince! "Agony" is one of my favorite songs!
Ben Wright is a wonderful Jack… his vocal expression is great in all his small bits. (And he can do the Goodbye Old Pal bit without cracking up. I'm sorry but it is kind of funny!) And his "Giants in the Sky" is the best. I've since heard a bunch of artists sing this song, and I still like this original version best. It's so emotional!
Todd Aldredge is all right. He sings better on this CD than he does in the movie. The duet between him and Chip Zien is really good… that's one of my favorites. Speaking of favorite songs… well… this is tough! I like the whole thing! But I definitely love "Agony"… and "Moments in the Woods"… and "No One Is Alone"… and "No More"…um… maybe I better stop before I just tell you the whole song list!
Definitely if you like musicals buy this CD! In fact, even if you only like some great musicals (Les Mis, POTO, all the famous stuff), get it anyway. It's one of those ones that appeals to a wide audience – even a lot of people who otherwise hate Sondheim like this. Trust me – my sister hates most musicals, she groans if I mention them, but she liked this one a little when I made her watch the movie.
Also see my review of the Into the Woods 2002 Revival Cast and OBC Video.
