Into The Woods

1. Ordinary Fairy tales vs. “Into the Woods”

2. Plot of Act I vs.Plot of Act Π

1.Roles Variation － Flora2.Quest, mission fulfillment － Wendy3.Binary （ with examples ）－ Amber4. “It takes two”, parallel,the ends justify the

beans － Sally5.Story telling,Derrida’s concept － Molly6.Major Symbol － Carol7.Conclusion and Review － Lynn

Role Original

Fairy Tale

Act 1 Act 2

Baker X 1.Coward2.Inferior3.Chauvinism

1.Cooperative2.Responsible

Baker’s Wife

X 1.Selfish2.Loyal

1.Unselfish2.Disloyal

Witch 1.Powerful2.Guard

1.Powerful2.Mother

1.Powerless2.Beauty

Role Original Fairy Tale

Act 1 Act 2

Cinderella 1.Obedient

2.Passive

More active

(accept the

prince or not)

Active

(refuse the prince)

Prince Charming 1.Charming

2.Conceited

1.Conceited

2.Insincere

Little Red More dependent

Independent Be cared

Care

Jack Obedient 1.Rebellious

2.Be irritated

1.Brave

2.Responsible

Rapunzel Beautiful 1.Beautiful

2.Ignorant

1.Plain

2.Ignorant

Role Act 1 Act 2

Baker Hero / helper (to himself & Little Red & witch) / victim (of witch)

Hero / helper

Baker’s Wife Hero / helper (to himself & Little Red & witch) / victim (of witch)

Hero / helper

Mysterious Man

Helper (to Baker)

Helper

Role Act 1 Act 2

Witch Villain / victim (of her mother)

Helper (to Giantess) / Opponent (to Jack)

Cinderella

Hero / helper (to herself & Baker)

Helper

Cinderella’s Mother (Birds)

Helper (to Cinderella)

Helper

Prince False hero False hero

Role Act 1 Act 2

Little Red Hero / helper (to Baker) / victim (of Wolf)

Helper

Jack Hero / helper (to himself & Baker)

Opponent (to Giantess) / Helper

Rapunzel Victim (of witch) / helper (to prince

Victim

Giantess Protector (to Jack)

False Villain / victim

1. Absence of Witch

2. Jack’s Mother

3. Prince

Quest Opponent

Baker and Wife A child ＝ Milky White ＋ Golden Shoe+Hair ＋ Red Cape

1.Milky White Runs Away+dies

2.Second cow is not as white as the first

3.Rapunzel’s hair

Jack Become Rich Giant

Cinderella Attend the ball Stepmother ＆sisters

Little Red Riding hood

Visit Sick Granny Wolf ＆ Curiosity

Rapunzel Freedom ＋experience the world

Wit ch

Π Quest Opponent

Baker+wife Guard Little Red Riding hood to Granny

Giantess

Jack Kill the Giant Giantess

Cinderella See Mother’s Grave

Giantess

Little Red Riding hood

Move to Granny’s

Giantess

1. “Ever After”←→Rapunzel’s Humming2. Children Won’t Listen （ Lament ） vs. Childre

n will Listen （ Lament ＆ Children Will Listen）3. Baker’s wife ←→ Cinderella 4. Astray ←→ Back to path （ Baker’s escape, Wi

fe’s affair, Little Red Riding hood ） （Any Moment ＆ Moment in the Woods）5. Baker takes back Cinderella ←→ Baker’s wife h

as an affair with Prince Charming

6. Baker takes back Cinderella ←→ Baker’s wife has an affair with Prince

Charming7.Baker’s Escape ←→ Face the facts

8. “No One Is Alone” － No one is alone ←→ Everyone is alone

9. Baker (complication and parent ) ←→ Rapunzel ( simplicity and child )

10. Witch (practical and parent) ←→ Rapunzel (naïve and child)

It takes two

”• － refers to “Union strength” • It takes two to have a child

• It takes two to find Jack － also could refer to two errors

• they made

• Milky White － Lying• Rapunzel’s hair － By force

1. Prince Seducing Baker’s Wife

vs. Baker finding Cinderella and taking her back for shelter

2. Jack ‘s Adventure vs. Little Red Riding hood

• Jack was treated very well by the giantess ＜ From ： Giants in the Sky＞－－ And she gives you food and she gives

you rest.  And she draws you close to her giant breastAnd you know things now that you never knew before………….. （ Sexual Implication ）

• Little Red Riding hood eaten by wolf －－ （ Sexual Implication ） ＜ From ： “ I Know Things Now” ＞

• Original One ： The ends justify the means.

【為達目的，不擇手段】• Related to Derrida’s concept of “ Différa

nce”---In Act I, most main character got what they want

no matter their means are right or not（ somehow eliminating a certain aspect of things they did） , so that it brought the following consequence in Act Π.

–

• 1.Traditional fairy tale elements• 2. The narrator （ story teller ）• a. Detached position b.Importance 3. The death of the narratora.       a. The death of the author is the birth

of the readerb.      →The death of the narrator is the birth

of the actors.c.       b .Switch of the narrator

• 1.To defer 2. To differ • －－ Example: • 1. Consequence• Act1: Wrong doing: Beans ＆ Milky White • Act2: Giantess • 2. Pun <Interpretation> • ＊ Prince （ Malice ） : a. Act of Care b. Act

of Hunting• ＊ Give me “The blame” ： a.Wrong Doing

（ curse ） b.Jack

1.Wish

2.spell

3.Woods

• 1.Unknown

• 2.Mature

• ---Little Red Riding hood

---Baker

---Cinderella

• 3.Danger and Shelter

• 4.Hope

• － Quick Review

• － Discussion

• a ： Who is the villain ？• b ： Who has the absolute power

• － Question Raising

• 1.Theatre –musical

＜ http://theatre-musical.com/intothewoods/libretto.html ＞

2.Sondheim

http://www.sondheim.com/shows/into_the_woods/ (Offers articles, show data, original Broadway production and cast information, original London production, cast and musical additions information, and awards.)

3.A review: http://www.sondheim.com/discussions/uhm.html

4.character list (with what they do):http://www.stageagent.com/cb/info.pl/ti/into_the_

woods 5. The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide

http://www.geocities.com/sondheimguide