Lin Manuel was mentored by Sondheim guys. I don’t think Sondheim would like you guys dissing someone he helped raise up… Though admittedly Lin may agree with you! He said that the greatest moment of his career was impressing Sondheim with an unexpected rhyme!
Bernadette Peters is her name!! She also star in Sunday In The Park With George with Mandy Patikin, it was also done by Stephen Sondheim (who did the music and lyrics for Into The Woods) check Sunday out and other Sondheim musicals, you'll love them.
When was this performance? I have to give myself credit, I totally nailed it on naming the witch as Bernadette Peters just by the voice and the vague facial features I could make out. Haven’t seen or heard anything from her in decades. Probably since she played Steve Martins girlfriend in “The Jerk”.
This particular performance was filmed in 1990, but they used the original cast except for one really minor part, the original actress who played Snow White was not available.
This song/performance is ridiculous- it takes the ability to sing, and act and impeccable comedic timing to boot. All three of which she has in spades. She took a sledgehammer and shattered the mold of this role with just one song.
My daughter did this GREENS GREENS scene in the 3rd grade at her school on parents night /open house. She rattled that whole thing off as easy as most saying hello. She brought down the house. One of my proudest moments as a parent. Local groups were pounding on my door (literally) the next day .
She should have gotten a Tony nomination for Into the Woods, and this clips proves why. Her singing and comedic timing is next level, and she is amazing the whole show. 🌳🌳🌳🧙♀️
This is one difficult number! You have to enunciate every syllable so well, keep the tempo secure, and squeeze all that humor in. I can't imagine many can do this better that what we are witnessing and hearing in this clip. Peters is doing great work here
TheNotverysocial It also sounds like Rapunzel's song (the one the prince sings in Agony) and the "don't you know what's out there in the world?" line in Stay With Me. I love Sondheim :')
I think Rapunzel fulfills the same function as Joanna, too, save the fact Joanna never goes mad, though she fakes it well. And Joanna lives happily ever after with Anthony and Tobias, her loving husband and foster son. Rapunzel bites it, leaving her husband and children behind. Even then, their ultimate fate is never revealed, but it's very bleak either way.
Witch: In the past when your mother was with child she developed an unusual appitite! She took one look at MY beautiful garden and told your father that what she wanted more than anything in the world was- Greens green and nothing but green! Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery. Asparagus and Watercress and Fiddlefern and Lettuce. He said "Alright!" But it wasn't quite cause I caught him in the autumn in my garden one night! He was robbing me, Raping me. Rudding through my rutabagga raiding my arugula ripping up the Rampion MY CHAMPION MY FAVORITE! I shoulda layed a spell on him right THERE! Coulda turned him into stone or a dog or chair-eh-eh. *Momentary Trance" But I let him have the rampion, I'd lots to spare in return however I said fair is fair. You can let me have the baby that your wife will bear.. And we'll call it square. Baker: I had a brother? Witch: NO! But you had a sister. Narator: But the witch refused to tell him anymore of his sister...even that her name was Rapunzel. Witch: I thought I had been more than reasonable...but how was I to know what your father had also HIDDEN in his pocket! You see when I had inherited the garden my mother warned me that I would be punished if I were ever to loose any of the beans. Baker and Wife: Beans? Witch: The special beans, I let him go I didn't know he'd stolen my beans! I was watching him crawl back over the wall when BANG! CRASH! And Lightning Flash- and well that's another story nevermind... Anyway at last the big day came, I made my claim. "Oh don't take away the baby!" They shrieked and screached but I did! And I hid her where she'll never be reached! Your father cried and your mother died. But for extra measure-I admit it was a pleasure- I said "Sorry I'm still not mollified" and I layed a little spell on them. You too son! That your family tree will always be a barren one! Baker and Wife: No!!! Witch: So...there's no more fuss and there's no more scenes and my garden thrives! You should see my nectarines! But I'm telling you the same I tell Kings and Queens don't ever never ever mess around with my greens! ESPECIALLY THE BEANS!
The Witch's Rap (that's what I call it) is my favorite piece in Into the Woods. My high school drama class performed this and it was an excellent play.
I cannot overstate just how much I love Bernadette Peters. I have been a fan of her since childhood listening to her voice Rita on Animaniacs, and any time I would hear about her being in something be it Annie (1982), The Jerk, The Wonderful World of Disney presents Roger and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" (with Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, Victor Garber, and the incomparable Whitney Houston), I HAD to see it because I knew Bernadette would be perfect in whatever she was doing. Wgen I finally saw this version of Into The Woods ten years ago (along with Sunday in the Park) because I heard Bernadette was in it, I knew that I would not be disappointed with it and I was right! Bernadette is a class act, and just wonderful in any role she's given! I may be one of the very few who *did* enjoy Meryl Streep in the movie (she brought her own thing to the role, and I thoroughly enjoyed it) but the fangirl in me still wishes Bernadette had been asked to come back. (That or cast Donna Murphy, the only alternative I would've accepted to Bernadette.) She's funny, she's absolutely brilliant, and she brings pathos to every character she plays. I would give my left kidney to see her live! Bernadette is just everything, and gods I would love to see her return to the stage!
this is awesome! i love how she delivers it! haha i love how when the witch goes into her trance the baker and his wife are freaking out because they don't know what to do or what is happening XD
This woman is amazing. I went to call backs for a youth community production of Into the Woods and was one of those who had to sing this. I did horrible. Very difficult. I wish I studied this. XD (I will drop dead in surprise if I'm not cast as Rapunzel, but I won't know for another few days...If anyone was curious. XD)
Oh my gosh, Bernedatte Peters, the best witch ever! XD My school is doing this play, I'm Rapunzel. XDD It'll be fun, just randomly shreiking and crying all the time, no wonder the prince goes for another maiden. XD
I don't know why it isn't included on the cast recording, but it's "stone...or a dog, or a chair! or a slithering snake!" I love the way she performed this but because it was never actually made clear what the lyric is, many people have been confused.
I luv it when she goes "Then bang, crash the lightning flashed...oh and that's another story. Nevermind." Hilarious! I have this exact play on DVD and I watch it all the time. Favorite play ever!
words could hardly ever describe the amount of love i hold in my heart i hold for bernadette peters ❤ especially her as “dot” in “sunday in the park with george”. THE FOLLIES, GEORGE!!
I wish more musicals were filmed like Into the Woods and Cats and Legally Blonde. Growing up I learned to adore musical theatre watching these special performances and it encouraged me to see local live productions!
Was the witch having some kind of seizure part of the act or was that bernadette peters acting? or was she really having some kind of seizure? Great song though. :D
I Looove Into the Woods! I was the Narrator in the Junior version in middle school.. Fell in love with it at auditions. AND Bernadette is probably my all time favorite stage actress, she's so good at what she does!
DannyTV In the 2002 Broadway revival, when Vanessa Williams played the Witch, instead of the snuuhuhuhh, she said “snake” and her hair turned into hissing snakes for a moment.
Funny you should say that, cause Donna Murphy, the voice of Mother Gothel(as well as the original Fosca from Passion, another brilliant work by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Director/Playwright James Lapine: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6M8pxgF2NbU.html), ACTUALLY played THIS Witch(who actually cares for Rapunzel(whose hair doesn't provide youth powers), despite being very restrictive of letting her adoptive child go) in this outdoor production of this show in Central Park! It also has Amy Adams(Giselle in Enchanted) playing The Baker's Wife, and Chip Zien(the actor who plays The Baker in this clip) playing the Mysterious Man(as well as doubling as Cinderella's Father)! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YanlCN899bY.html
I played the Baker in this play in High School. It was one of the funnest plays I've been in. I even got to direct the "Your Fault/Last Midnight" Scene. It was great.
i have been in this show and i was Little Red but my favorite character is the witch my favorite part is So there's no more fuss And there's no more scenes And my garden thrives- You should see my nectarines! But I'm tellling you the same I tell kings and queens: Don't ever never ever Mess around with my greens! Especially the beans. i love bernadette peters, as lily in annie too.
