Entertainment
'Into the Woods' Plot Changes Aren't So Bad
Brace yourselves, Broadway purists. Into the Woods is getting the Disney treatment. Or, better yet, as us big grown up folks like to call it — censored. According to Playbill, Stephen Sondheim confessed that in the upcoming movie adaptation, the Baker's Wife and Prince Charming don't shack up (womp), Rapunzel isn't offed by a giant (womp), and The Wolf is considerably less libidinous (wompppp). But, despite the minor alterations, I assure you that the Into the Woods film adaptation is going to be okay. You know why? Because Stephen Sondheim said so. And Stephen Sondheim is a demi-god.
If you're upset over the differences to come in the film, you aren't alone. In fact, the ones who are supposed to be protected by such censorship, children, are apparently also outraged by it according to some lucky high school teachers who had an opportunity to speak with the Broadway great. Sondheim had a pretty apt answer for those students and you may want to take to heart as well. Sondheim stated,
"...But you have to explain to them that censorship is part of our puritanical ethics, and it's something that they're going to have to deal with. There has to be a point at which you don't compromise anymore, but that may mean that you won't get anyone to sell your painting or perform your musical. You have to deal with reality."
In the scheme of things, folks, these changes are minor considering the overall awesomeness of the movie otherwise. Let me break down all the reasons why you shouldn't let this revelation ruin your excitement for Into the Woods:
1. THE CAST IS LEGITIMATELY STELLAR
Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick and Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp and Chris Pine, oh my!
2. INTO THE WOODS AUTHOR, JAMES LAPINE, WROTE THE SCREENPLAY
Who better to make sure it feels authentic than the impossibly imaginative creator himself?
3. THERE'S A NEW ORIGINAL SONG TO BE SUNG BY THE QUEEN HERSELF
4. THE FILM'S DIRECTOR, ROB MARSHALL, ALSO DIRECTED CHICAGO
And it was damn good.
5. IF THE STAGE PLAY & SONDHEIM ARE ANY INDICATION, THE MUSIC IS SUPERB
He wouldn't let us down. He just wouldn't!
