Editing Into the Woods (section)

===Theatre Royal, Bath, 2022===
A production played at the [[Theatre Royal, Bath|Theatre Royal]] in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], England, for 4 weeks starting on August 17, 2022. It was directed by [[Terry Gilliam]] and Leah Hausman. The show was first booked for the [[The Old Vic|Old Vic Theatre]] in 2020 but was cancelled there due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cast included [[Julian Bleach]] as the Mysterious Man, [[Nicola Hughes (actress)|Nicola Hughes]] as the Witch, [[Rhashan Stone]] as the Baker, Alex Young as the Baker's Wife, Nathanael Campbell as the Wolf and Cinderella's Prince, [[Audrey Brisson]] as Cinderella, Barney Wilkinson as Jack, [[Gillian Bevan]] as Jack's Mother, [[Charlotte Jaconelli]] as Florinda, Maria Conneeley as Rapunzel, and Lauren Conroy as Little Red in her professional stage debut. Milky White was played in pantomime by dancer Faith Prendergast. The music director was [[Stephen Higgins (conductor)|Stephen Higgins]]; [[Jon Bausor]] was in charge of the production design and Anthony McDonald of the costumes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Into The Woods – Theatre Royal Bath |url=https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/event/into-the-woods |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=www.theatreroyal.org.uk |archive-date=2022-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807221924/https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/event/into-the-woods |url-status=dead }}</ref> 

In contrast to the simultaneous Broadway revival, this production was quite visual, with elaborate sets and props, its conceit being that the characters were figures in a young girl's [[Victorian era|Victorian]] toy theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=''Into the Woods'' cast at Theatre Royal Bath includes Alex Young, Nicola Hughes, Julian Bleach, Audrey Brisson, Rhashan Stone |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/114930/news/into-the-woods-casting-to-include-nicola-hughes-julian-bleach-audrey-brisson-rhashan-stone-alex-young/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728065636/https://www.westendtheatre.com/114930/news/into-the-woods-casting-to-include-nicola-hughes-julian-bleach-audrey-brisson-rhashan-stone-alex-young/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The toy theatre spanned the stage, with "giant" props (cans of beans, a watch, a vase, a doll) appearing throughout and used by the characters as elements of setting (for example, Rapunzel's tower was a pile of bean cans).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Into the Woods at Theatre Royal Bath – first look photos {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/bath-theatre/news/into-the-woods-revival-photos_57209.html |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=22 August 2022 |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822223734/https://www.whatsonstage.com/bath-theatre/news/into-the-woods-revival-photos_57209.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Slapstick]] was also emphasized, "done in the spirit of what Sondheim has written".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Read |first=7 Min |date=2022-07-26 |title=Conjuring up new worlds: in conversation with theatre director Leah Hausman |url=https://thebathmagazine.co.uk/conjuring-up-new-worlds-in-conversation-with-theatre-director-leah-hausman/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=The Bath Magazine |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727151134/https://thebathmagazine.co.uk/conjuring-up-new-worlds-in-conversation-with-theatre-director-leah-hausman/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lapine supported this vision,<ref>{{Cite web |last=whdadmin |date=2022-01-07 |title=Into The Woods: Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical to open at Theatre Royal Bath |url=https://www.scenario-two.com/into-the-woods-stephen-sondheims-beloved-musical-to-open-at-theatre-royal-bath/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Scenario Two |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729104009/https://www.scenario-two.com/into-the-woods-stephen-sondheims-beloved-musical-to-open-at-theatre-royal-bath/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Terry Gilliam |url=https://www.facebook.com/Terry.Gilliam/posts/pfbid0PS1THRmC8FCaqHRLEcmapwfsVTTHrBAMmQwrWiPToHZa8u2vVK8FM33WgowQ12czl |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103085058/https://www.facebook.com/Terry.Gilliam/posts/pfbid0PS1THRmC8FCaqHRLEcmapwfsVTTHrBAMmQwrWiPToHZa8u2vVK8FM33WgowQ12czl |url-status=live }}</ref> and Sondheim gave his approval to the cast before he died.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicola Hughes sur Instagram: "Finally I can share my news!!!..." |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CckgNjhoPRo/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Instagram |language=fr |archive-date=2022-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729104056/https://www.instagram.com/p/CckgNjhoPRo |url-status=live }}</ref> Sondheim allegedly liked the designs so much that he fell off his chair laughing.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Into the Woods {{!}} In rehearsals with Terry Gilliam and Leah Hausman |date=15 August 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VXiqAnTed4 |access-date=2022-08-15 |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815110903/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VXiqAnTed4&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The show opened to mostly positive reviews, with critics praising this "hallucinogenic take",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cavendish |first=Dominic |date=2022-08-25 |title=Into the Woods, Theatre Royal Bath, review: Terry Gilliam's hallucinogenic take on Sondheim rises from the ashes of cancellation |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/woods-theatre-royal-bath-review-terry-gilliams-hallucinogenic/ |access-date=2022-08-25 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=2022-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824231246/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/woods-theatre-royal-bath-review-terry-gilliams-hallucinogenic/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with its "imaginative imagery"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Into the Woods review at Theatre Royal Bath, directed by Terry Gilliam |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/into-the-woods-directed-by-terry-gilliam-review-at-theatre-royal-bath |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=The Stage |language=En |archive-date=2022-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825120004/https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/into-the-woods-directed-by-terry-gilliam-review-at-theatre-royal-bath |url-status=live }}</ref> and "sheer spectacle"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Clive |title=Into the Woods review — Terry Gilliam's 'cancelled' Sondheim is sheer spectacle |language=en |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/into-the-woods-review-terry-gilliams-cancelled-sondheim-is-sheer-spectacle-c7znpb8hz |access-date=2022-08-25 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=2022-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825123204/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/into-the-woods-review-terry-gilliams-cancelled-sondheim-is-sheer-spectacle-c7znpb8hz |url-status=live }}</ref> and acclaiming Leah Hausman's "particularly crisp" choreography,<ref name=":1" /> while some regretted a lack of an "emotional connection between the characters and the audience"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Into the Woods review – the spectacle in Sondheim and Lapine's musical comes at a price {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/bath-theatre/reviews/into-the-woods-spectacle-gilliam-sondheim_57234.html |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |date=25 August 2022 |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825120140/https://www.whatsonstage.com/bath-theatre/reviews/into-the-woods-spectacle-gilliam-sondheim_57234.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and feeling that "nothing quite develops its emotional power as much as it might".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=Into the Woods review – Terry Gilliam's rollicking take on Sondheim's 'fairytale collision' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/aug/25/into-the-woods-review-terry-gilliams-rollicking-take-on-sondheims-fairytale-collision |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Reviews generally praised the strength and the vocal talent of the cast,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Theatre review: Into The Woods at Theatre Royal Bath |url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/into-the-woods-theatre-royal-b-21273 |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=British Theatre Guide |date=17 August 2022 |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825133308/https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/into-the-woods-theatre-royal-b-21273 |url-status=live }}</ref> and particularly Prendergast as Milky White.<!-- ADD The Guardian's review here -->{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}