Theater: “Into the Woods,” revival of Sondheim’s 1987 musical

Witches have been getting a bad rap since the days of the Salem Witch trials. But their stock has improved in recent times. There’s Glinda the Good Witch (played by Billie Burke and Kristen Chenowith in “Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked” respectively.) And lest we forget, “Bewitched’s” Samantha Stephens was played by lovely girl-next-door Elizabeth Montgomery.

But I suggest no one casts a spell like Patina Miller, who plays the witch in the current revival of “Into the Woods,” Sondheim’s 1987 musical. We’ve admired Miller ever since she took on the Ben Vereen role in the revival of “Pippin” 11 years ago. Her diva-like gorgeosity, combined with her natural wit and booming voice, tie this tightly knit production even closer together.

“ITW”, as Sondheim apostles know, has all the snark of Rocky and Bullwinkle’s “Fractured Fairy Tales” and the snap of a French farce. Every storybook character from our childhood—ranging from Cinderella (Krysta Rodriguez) to Little Red Riding Hood (Katy Geraghty) to The Baker (Brian D’Arcy-James) gets their 15 minutes (or more) of fame. Gavin Creel (as the foppish Prince Charming) and Andy Karl (as Rapunzel’s equally foppish husband) bring down the house with their duet “Agony.”

If the sight gags of the milky white cow and the footsteps of the evil giant don’t grab you, the wonderfully rich Sondheim score will. I especially liked “No One is Alone,” the crowning song of Act II—an act whose purpose is to show that “happy ever after” occurs only in fairy tales.

What lucky actors, to be able to perform in a Sondheim musical. How unlucky is he, not being present to see them.

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