"Let the moment go...don't forget it for a moment, though. Just remembering you've had an "and" when you're back to "or" makes the "or" mean more than it did before. Now I understand - and it's time to leave the woods." ~stephen sondheim (into the woods)

I'll write about my trip to Italy and Greece soon. I have a lot to say, but it will take me awhile to put it all into words. I'll say that I had a fabulous time. It was the best vacation ever. More to come on that.  "Moments in the Woods" (posted above, from the show I'm about to discuss) strangely describes my feelings about the vacation, so it's a good intro to the post and a segue into theater.


The Delacorte Theater might just be my favorite place in the world. It's the home of Shakespeare in the Park, and I've spent many summer nights there enjoying fabulous Shakespeare productions. Last week I was able to enjoy a night of Sondheim in the Park at the Delacorte. Into the Woods is one of my all-time favorite musicals (it's in my top three), and seeing it in Central Park (literally in the woods) was indescribable. I loved it. Sondheim is an absolute genius.

The performances in this production were particularly strong. My favorites were Amy Adams, Donna Murphy, and Sarah Stiles. Amy Adams is lovely as the Baker's Wife. Her "Moments in the Woods" is beautiful, and she's very funny. Donna Murphy is a freakin' superstar (Ben Brantley called her a superstar and I completely agree). She really is a living legend and I am so, so glad I was able to see her perform this role. She kills it. I think I like her performance as the witch even better than Bernadette Peters', although I know that's a pretty crazy statement for a musical theatre fan to make. Sarah Stiles plays Little Red, my favorite character in the show, and she's amazing. She offers a new take on the role, and I love it. She's precocious and strong and her comedic timing is perfect; she's hilarious. "I Know Things Now" is my favorite song in the show, and Sarah Stiles' version did not disappoint me at all. Gideon Glick is also very good as Jack. I love Denis O'Hare (sidenote: I'm so glad he's back on True Blood this season), but I think he's miscast as the Baker. Both Cinderella's Prince and Rapunzel's Prince are forgettable. The women really seem to stand out in this production.

The creative elements were a bit off in my mind. Poor Amy Adams is sporting the most awful, awful wig. I think Denis O'Hare is sweating buckets every night because of his cap and tweed jacket. Donna Murphy's appearance after the witch's transformation is perfect, but before the transformation, the dreadlocks and claws really don't work for me. All the costumes don't really work together; everyone looks like they're from a completely different story/time period, and I don't understand the point of that. I did like the way they did the Giant.

People are talking about a transfer to Broadway, and although it wouldn't be the same as in Central Park, I'd love to see it transfer. I definitely foresee some Tony noms if that happens.

Here's a nice interview with Amy Adams and Donna Murphy in the New York Times (you can see Ms. Adams' awful wig and Ms. Murphy's awful hair/costume in the photos).

ETA: Video preview