We discover three dwellings in a large forest. In one, we see
Cinderella cleaning; in the second, we see Jack trying to milk
his pathetic-looking cow, Milky-White; and in the third, we see
the Baker and the Baker’s Wife preparing tomorrow’s bread.
The Narrator leads the company through The Prologue” as we
learn about a series of wishes that are more important than
anything – even life itself – to these characters. Cinderella
wants to go to the King’s Festival; Jack wishes his cow could
give milk; and the Baker (who believes his parents were killed
in a baking accident) wishes he and his Wife could have a child.
As these characters express their wishes, we meet Cinderella’s
Stepmother and stepsisters who laugh at the idea of her going to
a ball; Jack’s aging mother who wishes for a lot of gold and a
less foolish son; and Little Red Ridinghood, who comes to buy
bread, sticky buns and pies from the Baker and his Wife before
starting her journey into the woods to see her sick Grandmother.
We learn Jack’s cow (whom Jacks foolishly persists in referring
to as “he”) is no longer giving milk. Jack’s Mother
says he must sell the cow so they can survive. He is crushed
because he thinks the cow is his best friend, but sets off to
the market to sell it. Leaving Cinderella in tears, her family
rides off to the ball without her.
The Baker and his Wife learn the Witch next door, a humpbacked
crone with long gnarled fingers, has placed a curse on them to
prevent their having a child. She explains the Baker’s father
had stolen various vegetables from her garden many years ago to
satisfy his wife’s insatiable desire for greens. He also stole
the Witch’s magic beans. To punish him for the theft, she
demanded and had been given the Baker’s sister, a sibling the
Baker never knew existed. She claims she still has the Baker’s
sister hidden away and that he can break the spell that makes
him childless only by bringing her a cow as white as milk, a
cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn and a slipper as
pure as gold.
The Baker puts on his father’s old jacket as he prepares to
journey into the woods. He finds six beans in the pockets and
wonders if they are the Witch’s magic beans. He forbids his Wife
to join him on this dangerous quest as he tries to memorize the
list of things the Witch says he must deliver. As “Trhe
Prologue” ends, Cinderella decides to visit her mother’s
grave.
At this point, the show takes on a rapid pace.
Cinderella tells her mother her wish and is given a fancy dress
and slippers to wear to the ball. While walking through the
Woods to market, Jack encounters a Mysterious Man who tells Jack
his cow is only worth a sack of beans. Little Red Ridinghood
meets a Wolf who targets her and her grandmother as his next
meal (“Hello, Little Girl”). The Baker appears and is
concerned harm will come to Little Red Ridinghood. The Witch
warns him not to worry about the child’s welfare; his task is
simply to steal her cape. We hear the sound of a woman singing
in the distance; it is the voice of the Baker’s lost sister,
Rapunzel.
As the Baker struggles to remember the four objects on his list,
his Wife appears, with another offer to help him. They argue
about her presence as they encounter Jack and his cow, a beast
like the one the Witch has demanded. The Baker’s Wife persuades
Jack to sell the cow for five of their beans (which leaves them
with one remaining bean). After Jack sings a sad farewell to the
cow (“I Guess This Is Goodbye”), the Baker is upset
they used deceit to acquire the animal. The Baker’s Wife insists
they did Jack a favor. (“Maybe They’re Magic”). She
says you have to go after what you want and not hesitate. The
Baker sends his wife home with the cow and continues on his way,
as Rapunzel sings again.
The Witch visits Rapunzel at the tower where she is kept
prisoner. A handsome prince sees the Witch climb Rapunzel’s hair
and decides to try it himself the following day.
The Baker makes an unsuccessful try at stealing Little Red
Ridinghood’s cape – thievery does not come naturally to him.
Little Red Ridinghood enters her Grandmother’s house to find the
Wolf, in bed, pretending to be the old woman (whom he has
eaten). After the Wolf eats Little Red Ridinghood, he takes a
nap. The Baker sees a corner of the red cloak hanging out of the
Wolf’s mouth and hoping to get the whole thing cuts his stomach
open, releasing Little Red Ridinghood and her Grandmother. After
the ordeal, Little Red Ridinghood realizes that “I Know
Things Now.” Grateful to the Baker for saving her life,
Little Red Ridinghood gives him her cloak.
Jack’s Mother is furious with him for selling their cow for five
seemingly worthless beans and she throws them away. The Baker’s
Wife, leading Milky-White through the forest, encounters
Cinderella, who is running from the Prince (the brother,
coincidentally, of the prince who is smitten with Rapunzel) and
his Steward. When Cinderella reveals she isn’t sure she wants
the Prince, the Baker’s Wife thinks she is being very foolish
(“A Very Nice Prince.”) The Baker’s Wife tries to take
one of Cinderella’s gold shoes, but is forced to chase after the
runaway cow instead.
The next morning the characters realize one midnight has gone
and they have not realized their wishes. Jack discovers a
beanstalk has grown up overnight.
As the Baker sleeps beneath a tree, Jack appears with an
oversized money sack. He sings about “Giants In The
Sky” and relates his adventure. He describes the sensation
of being high in the sky and meeting a lady giant who drew him
close. The appearance of her husband, an even bigger giant who
intended to harm him, sent him scrambling back to earth with one
of the giant’s sacks of gold. Jack’s Mother, delighted by his
acquistion, has let him keep five gold pieces which he wants to
use to buy back Milky-White. He finds the Baker and demands his
cow. The Baker cannot sell the cow because the Witch wants it.
Jack, thinking the Baker is holding out for more money, goes off
in search of additional funds, leaving the gold with the Baker.
The Baker’s Wife appears, confessing she has lost the cow.
Rapunzel’s Prince and Cinderella’s Prince exchange tales of woe
(“Agony”), each insisting his romantic problem is more
serious than his brother’s.
The Baker’s Wife, who is searching for the hair as yellow as
corn, encounters Jack’s Mother, who is looking for Jack. The
Mysterious Man returns the cow to the Baker. The Witch warns the
Mysterious Man to stay out of her business. The Baker’s Wife,
recognizing Rapunzel’s hair as the perfect shade to satisfy the
Witch’s hair demand, grabs one of the girl’s substantial
tresses, rips it out, and runs into Cinderella, who is on her
way home from another night at the Festival. The Baker’s Wife
tries, without success, to take Cinderella’s shoe. The Baker and
his Wife run into each other and he finally agrees it will take
both of them to accomplish their goal (“It Takes
Two”).
Jack appears with the hen that lays golden eggs. The Baker’s
Wife realizes the Baker has considered selling the cow for
money. The cow drops dead and all seems lost for the Baker and
his Wife. Two midnights are gone.
The Baker goes in search of another cow. The Baker’s Wife goes
off to try again to grab a golden slipper. The Witch warns
Rapunzel to obey her (“Stay With Me”) and to remain
shielded from the world. Rapunzel says she is no longer a child
and wants to see the world. Enfuriated, the Witch cuts off most
of Rapunzel’s hair and exiles her. The Narrator reveals, while
pursuing Rapunzel, Rapunzel’s Prince has fallen into a patch of
thorns and blinded himself.
Little Red Ridinghood has turned bloodthirsty, replacing her red
cloak with one made from the skins of the Wolf. Jack, questing
after more money for his mother, has returned to the giant’s
domain to steal more gold.
Leaving her third visit to the royal ball with only one slipper,
Cinderella reflects on her indecision about leaving her
miserable home for the unknown aspects of life with the Prince
(“On The Steps of the Palace”). She decides not to
decide. She has left a shoe for the Prince to find and it will
be his decision.
The Baker’s Wife gives Cinderella her own shoes in exchange for
the remaining gold slipper. She then has a struggle with the
Prince’s Steward who also wants the second gold slipper. The
Mysterious Man becomes involved in the struggle. The Prince
decides they only need one shoe. There is a horrible thud.
Jack’s Mother screams that a dead giant has fallen from the sky.
No one seems to care. The third midnight is near.
The Baker and his Wife report to the Witch with their four
objects, but she rejects the new cow which they have covered
with flour to look like the dead Milky-White. The Witch demands
they bring the dead Milky-White to her and she’ll bring it back
to life. Jack appears with a golden harp. The Witch restores
Milky-White to life and commands the Baker to feed the cow the
other objects. A clock chime begins to strike. The Witch insists
the cow be milked to fill a silver goblet. Jack tries, but no
milk flows. When the Baker’s Wife says she pulled the hair as
yellow as corn from a maiden in the tower, the Witch explains
she, the Witch, cannot have touched any of the objects needed to
break the spell. The Mysterious Man says to feed the cow an ear
of corn. The Witch reveals the Mysterious Man is the Baker’s
father. The cow eats the corn, the milk flows into the goblet
and the Witch drinks it. She is transformed into a beautiful
woman and the Baker’s father dies as the third midnight strikes.
The Narrator explains the Witch had been cursed with ugliness
after her beans were stolen, but is now beautiful once again.
Milky-White is reunited with Jack. The Prince searches for
Cinderella with the golden slipper. Lucinda and Florinda try to
fit into the slipper by cutting off parts of their feet, but
their tricks are discovered and the Prince finally finds
Cinderella.
The Narrator states Rapunzel, who has had twins, has been
reunited with her blind husband and Rapunzel’s tears restored
his vision. The Witch attempts a reconciliation with her adopted
daughter, but Rapunzel refuses. When the Witch tries to enchant
Rapunzel and her prince, she realizes that in exchange for her
own youth and beauty, she has lost her magical power over
others.
At Cinderella’s wedding, her stepsisters are blinded. The
Baker’s Wife appears, very pregnant.
The Narrator observes that everything which seemed wrong is now
right. The kingdoms are filled with joy and those who deserve
happiness to are certain to live long and satisfying lives. Only
tenderness and laughter are foreseen forever after. As everyone
congratulates themselves on their unswerving determination to
get their wishes, a giant beanstalk emerges from the ground and
stretches to heaven. No one notices it.
As in the opening of Act I, we discover three structures. The
first is the castle where Cinderella lives with the Prince; the
second is Jack’s house which is filled with all the conveniences
gold will buy; the third is the home of the Baker and his Wife,
which is cluttered with nursery items.
While the characters seem content (“Prologue: So
Happy”), minor disturbances are quietly disrupting the
joyous scene. The Baker’s Wife wants a bigger cottage and she is
squabbling with her husband over the baby’s care. Suddenly a
huge crash is heard and their home caves in.
The Baker goes off to tell the Royal Family. The Witch, who has
lost her garden in the incident, insists they will not be of any
help. When the Baker stops at Jack’s house he is refused help by
Jack’s Mother who is still angry because no one cared when she
had a giant in her backyard. The Baker is granted an audience
with Cinderella who seems unable to offer any concrete
assistance. Despite his mother’s warnings, Jack goes out to
investigate.
Little Red Ridinghood stops at the Baker’s. She is on her way to
move in with her Grandmother because her own home was destroyed
and her mother has disappeared. The Baker and his Wife offer to
escort her through the woods. The birds come to lead Cinderella
through the woods, warning of trouble at her mother’s grave. The
characters re-enter the woods “To flee the winds – To find
a future – To shield – To slay – To flee – To find – To fix – To
hide – To move – To battle – To see what the trouble is.”
The royal brothers, Rapunzel’s Prince and Cinderella’s Prince,
meet and again compare their problems. Rapunzel’s Prince
complains his wife finds it impossible to be happy because of
her pain-filled upbringing. He has fallen for Snow White.
Cinderella’s Prince lusts after Sleeping Beauty (Reprise:
“Agony”).
The Baker, his Wife and child and Little Red Ridinghood are lost
in the now chaotic woods. They see the Royal Family staggering
down a path and learn the castle has been set upon by a giant.
When the Baker reminds the Steward he tried to warn them, the
Steward replies “I don’t make policy, I just carry it
out.”
Suddenly the Giant appears and the group realizes it is the wife
of the giant Jack killed. She has come to exact revenge and
demands Jack be handed over to her. Since she is near-sighted,
the group thinks they can substitute someone else. Everyone in
the group has an idea who should be sacrificed. First they
sacrifice the Narrator. When the Giant realizes he isn’t the boy
she’s after, she destroys him and again demands Jack. Jack’s
Mother engages the Giant in a furious verbal battle; the Steward
bashes Jack’s Mother over the head to stop her from endangering
everyone else and Jack’s mother is fatally wounded. The Steward
reveals that Jack is hiding in Rapunzel’s tower. Then,
hysterical, Rapunzel runs toward the Giant and is crushed. The
witch mourns that this is the world she was trying to save
Rapunzel from confronting (“Lament”).
The group disagrees about turning Jack over to the Giant. The
Royal Family, without concern for anyone else, run to another
kingdom. The Baker and his Wife leave their child with Little
Red Ridinghood and go off to save Jack from the Witch, who is on
her way to turn him over to the Giant.
The Baker’s Wife encounters Cinderella’s Prince in the woods and
they have a romantic encounter in a glade. The Prince is ready
to forget his commitment to Cinderella, but The Baker’s Wife is
ambivalent (“Any Moment”). The Baker meets Cinderella
next to her mother’s ruined grave and invites her to join his
group. The Baker’s Wife realizes she has to let the moment go,
but says she will never forget her time with the Prince
(“Moments In The Woods”). She knows it is time for her
to leave the woods, but she becomes lost, the giant appears and
she is crushed.
Jack is discovered by the others. He reports the Baker’s Wife is
dead. Everyone blames him, but he blames the Baker for giving
him the beans which set the scenario in motion (“Your
Fault”). As the song evolves, everyone blames every one
else. The Witch stops their accusations, declaring it’s the
“Last Midnight.” She says everyone is looking for
someone to blame, when they should look inward instead. She says
“You can tend the garden. Separate and alone.” She
disappears as they begin to see the connections between their
earlier individual actions and the current problem.
The Baker starts to leave the Woods, believing his child is
better off with Cinderella than with him. Suddenly, his father,
the Mysterious Man, reappears. The Baker says, “I thought
you were dead.” The Mysterious Man answers “Not
completely. Are we ever?” The Baker cries out that the
whole situation was caused by the father’s invasion of the
Witch’s garden years before. The Mysterious Man accuses the
Baker of running from his own guilt (“No More”). As
his father leaves, the Baker realizes he is just like him. He
decides to stay and fight alongside the others.
As the Baker, Jack, Little Red Ridinghood and Cinderella plan
their attack, a flock of birds whispers to Cinderella that her
prince has been unfaithful. She says she doesn’t care and
enlists their help to kill the Giant. As each perepares to
execute the plan, the Prince reappears. Cinderella dismisses him
saying, “My father’s house was a nightmare. Your house was
a dream. Now I want something in between.”
Cinderella and the Baker try to reassure Little Red Ridinghood
and Jack, who are now orphans trying to make sense of right and
wrong (“No One Is Alone”).
The Giant is killed and the dead in the community appear as
ghosts, joining in a pronouncement of the moral lessons learned
from the experience in the woods. The Baker and Cinderella
become the responsible adults in a re-constituted family made up
of the Baker’s child, Little Red Ridinghood and Jack. The ghost
of the Baker’s Wife encourages him to believe in his power to
raise their child without her. The Witch reappears to warn the
Baker to be careful of the tales he tells his child
(“Children Will Listen”).
The final reprise of “Into The Woods” reminds us there
will be times when each of us must journey into the woods but
that we must mind the future and the past.
The show ends as Cinderella says “I wish … ”