In preparation for the Christmas Day premiere of the Film version of Stephen Sondheim (Masterworks Broadway) INTO THE WOODS directed by Rob Marshall, I viewed the DVD of the original Broadway production starring my heroine Bernadette Peters. It once again clarified Sondheims mastery of balanced tragic and comic structures. From pratfalls to soaring melodies Sondheim uses every tool at his disposal, the entire theatrical library of performance to tell a story. He is truly one of the musical theatres master composers/lyricists. What came to the fore in this production is his status as philosopher and political commentator. The woods of decision making, the careful what you wish for warning, the inevitable course of every decision is clearly plotted in the actions of each character. What I had not noticed and perhaps the critics at the NY TIMES Arts page purposely skimmed past, and my sophisticated arts associates refuse exists, is his skewering attack on group think encapsulated so succinctly and scathingly in the witchs off hand response, ...you cant trust the royal family and yet that is exactly what zealous party line/us against them voting does in trusting the royal families of politics reappearing every four years like revolving doors at NY hotels no common man voter could ever afford. Theres the somebody to blame/Its Your Fault environment of todays political discourse, the dangers of leaving the greater good in the hands of self serving apparatchiks and I use the term pointedly with non-elected government czars from approved corporate bedfellows. So much education staring audiences in their enlightened, hip, worldly, urbane, cultured, cool faces and yet they sit blinded by their own guilty insecurities humming along to tunes theyve memorized but never learned. His admonition to think for ourselves and accept the responsibilities is brushed aside into a unified and self righteous conviction of certitude. The princes roam the countryside heralding their hunt for the giant but only exploit the villagers swearing, ...what is the meaning of is? I hope Sondheim keeps creating because we keep missing his lesson for feel good self congratulation, and with Hollywood putting their spin on the story I have even less hope that the lesson will be told, clearly. How could Art scold the very hypocrites paying the bills? Well just keep missing the forest for the trees, we are so lost in the woods.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 01:41:17 +0000
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