ChildrenWillListen
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The leadwho do you guys think is the lead. The Witch or the Bakers wife
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Baker
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Oh not this again.
This topic has been discussed inside-out and backwards.
I personally think that the leads are the Baker and his Wife. The entire story revolves around them. Some people make the argument that the Witch gets the last bow so she's the lead, but in the end, the Witch is played by the big name and that's why she gets the last bow.
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what_the_heck013
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| Baker wrote: | Oh not this again.
This topic has been discussed inside-out and backwards. |
Yup. Into the Woods is an ensemble piece. Sondheim also doesn't generally write shows with huge lead role without putting huge supporting lead roles. (COMPANY-Bobby is the "lead" but Joanne is a huge role). Technically, the protagonist in Into the Woods is the baker and the antagonist is the witch, but this, through the course of the show, is twisted, gnarled, and turned around.
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ChildrenWillListen
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yeah but doest the witch have more songs lines and is the main problem in the show?
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what_the_heck013
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| ChildrenWillListen wrote: | | yeah but doest the witch have more songs lines and is the main problem in the show? |
Technically, the witch has five songs: "Our Little World", "Stay With Me", "Lament", "Last Midnight", and "Children Will Listen". The baker's wife has "Maybe They're Magic", "A Very Nice Prince", "It Takes Two", "Any Moment", "Moments in the Woods", and "Children Will Listen" (Six songs). This is, though, all according to the MTI website. Some of the songs they listed as the baker's wife's "songs", I don't think are "her songs".
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ChildrenWillListen
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So, the witch would be classified under supporting? or are they both leads?
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what_the_heck013
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| ChildrenWillListen wrote: | | So, the witch would be classified under supporting? or are they both leads? |
They are both leads.
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SimplyElymas
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Why do people have this fixation with lead/supporting? It's understandable if you're making the distinction between chorus/speaking part, but please. It is not that important, and it's becoming my pet peeve. As an actor, I can sink my teeth into Little Red Riding Hood just as much as the Baker, the Wolf, the Baker's Wife, or frankly, any role. A role is what you make of it.
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what_the_heck013
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| SimplyElymas wrote: | | As an actor, I can sink my teeth into Little Red Riding Hood just as much as the Baker, the Wolf, the Baker's Wife, or frankly, any role. |
You seem to use that phrase a lot. But I think that all Sondheim shows--ESPECIALLY INTO THE WOODS--have very 3 dimensional characters that you can... | SimplyElymas wrote: | | sink my teeth into |
.
For example, Cinderella is not really the lead role, but she still has motivations and attitudes and such.
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ChildrenWillListen
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slow down cowboy, i didnt make this string to offend or piss off anyone I just wanted to know which one is a lead becuase i was confused.  | Quote: | | SimplyElymas last comment |
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Salome
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The Witch s a supporting part..which is teh reason when Sondheim approached Bernadette to play the role he wasnt sure if she would agree to do it.
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what_the_heck013
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| ChildrenWillListen wrote: | | i didnt make this string to offend or piss off anyone. |
I wasn't offended or pissed off.
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Baker
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| SimplyElymas wrote: | | I can sink my teeth into Little Red Riding Hood |
Are you a Wolf by chance?
I'm sorry, it was there and waiting. And no one had gotten there yet. I had to take it! 
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ConverseSneaker
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This is the one question I hate, because for everyone performance there is a different answer. To me, it depends on who plays thier role the best. On Broadway, the Witch was the lead. In other shows, it's the Baker, or Cinderella. It really depends on how well they are portrayed by the actors.
| Quote: | I can sink my teeth into Little Red Riding Hood
Are you a Wolf by chance? |
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BroadwayBud
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[quote="SimplyElymas"] A role is what you make of it.[/quote]
That sounds like Sondheim! I know, corny...dull...stupid...but that was the first thing that popped in my mind! 
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musialman
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i think either can be the lead depending on performance
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Sweeney Hyde
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| Baker wrote: | | Some people make the argument that the Witch gets the last bow so she's the lead, but in the end, the Witch is played by the big name and that's why she gets the last bow. |
The same thing can be said for Sweeney Todd. A lot of people have just seen one of the concert or of the first national tour. In the national tour film Mrs. Lovett, Angela Lansburry, not Sweeney Todd, George Hearn, takes the final bow. Lansburry is obviously the better known actress. I'm not sure who takes the last bow in the concert...I don't remember right now. But just because someone has the last bow doesn't make them the lead.
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