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 This lush recording of the new Broadway revival of the classic Sondheim fairy tale tastefully presents the score without adding much to the original. That's not exactly a bad thing, since this is one of Sondheim's most accessible and lovely musicals. Here, the arrangements are almost identical to the 1987 version, which is fine if you're not familiar with that landmark work. Still, almost every performance this time around is not the equal of its predecessor, making the CD a much less interesting addition to the Sondheim canon. Vanessa Williams fills out the role of the witch nicely, although she doesn't quite grasp that on an original cast album, the performance must audibly reflect what is accomplished visually in performance. She lacks the vitality needed to vary her approach, and at times her singing resembles pop crooning, which is totally inappropriate for the character. Elsewhere, characters lack the vibrance needed to distinguish themselves for the listener. One exception is Laura Benatti, who plays Cinderella as less of a ditz and with more vulnerability that in previous incarnations. Of course, the most wonderful thing that can be said about this recording is that the score is one of the best Broadway has produced in the past 20 years. The idea of intertwining various fairy tales with the unpredictabilities of reality is intriguing, and Sondheim clearly pulls it off with songs that are fetching, muscular, touching and altogether memorable. If the 1987 original did not exist, this would earn 5 stars simply because of the astonishing originality of the score. So if you aren't familiar with "Into the Woods", get this and go there soon. You won't forget it.
From the opening number (all 12 minutes of it) you feel as if you're listening to a community theatre cast recording on a bad day. Leading me in that judgement is the "performance" of Marylouise Burke who plays Jack's Mother. I will never understand that casting decision. She is lackluster in voice and spirit. Her vocals sound as if someone is holding a gun to her head and making her be on Broadway. It's so sad.
"Prologue: Into the Woods" - They added a little chime intro before the Narrator begins. They have added some dialogue that was cut out from the original. My only problem with this song is that all of the parts sung by Marylouise Burke, who plays Jack's Mother, have been transposed drastically lower because of her limited and extremely low range. Her portrayal is nowhere near the caliber of the original Mother, Barbara Bryne. "Cinderella at the Grave" - This is interesting, mainly because Laura Benanti sings both Cinderella and Cinderella's Mother. Laura is brilliant as always. "Hello, Little Girl" - More dialogue added, one Wolf added. As Wolf #1 lusts for Little Red Ridinghood, Wolf #2 goes after the Three Little Pigs. The song is probably more effective when acted out on stage. "I Guess This Is Goodbye"/"Maybe They're Magic" - We see a glimpse of Jack, sung by Adam Wylie. Kerry O'Malley is refreshing as the Baker's Wife; it's nice to hear someone younger-sounding sing the part, although I personally loved Joanna Gleason's performance. "Our Little World" - This song was cut from the original. We get to hear Rapunzel sing more. The song is sung as the Witch climbs up Rapunzel's hair and the end is quite amusing. "I Know Things Now" - Molly Ephraim seems fitting for Little Red Ridinghood but I would like to see her act the song out rather than listen to the song since it sounds almost exactly like the original. "A Very Nice Prince"/"First Midnight"/"Giants in the Sky" - They cut half of "A Very Nice Prince"! Ugh, how could they? Both Laura and Kerry sing beautifully. In "First Midnight," the advice given by the Grandmother is cut out since the same actress who plays her is now also Cinderella's Stepmother. Adam Wylie sings "Giants" well but, I don't know, I just prefer the original, sung by Ben Wright. Still one of my favorite songs. "Agony" - The only thing bothering me in this song is the end. I prefer the quiet ending of the original to the new forte ending. The two Princes don't blend as well as the original two. "It Takes Two" - A wonderful rendition. Very well done. "Stay with Me" - This was transposed down for Vanessa Williams. Vanessa doesn't sing it with the same feeling Bernadette Peters did. Vanessa really doesn't have that kind of lullaby voice style, but I guess she tried. "On the Steps of the Palace" - Wow, Laura Benanti just shines in this song. She is just amazing! I love this song and she does it justice. However, they added Little Red and Jack at the end for some harmony. I don't get how they fit in, I'll have to see it played out on stage. "Ever After" - Nothing's really changed. They added the "To be continued..." part which was left out in the original. They hold the last note a bit longer, I guess to give it more of a finale feel. "Prologue: So Happy" - Nothing's changed really. "Agony (Reprise)" - Um, again I prefer the piano ending as opposed to the new forte one. "Lament" - Vanessa just doesn't have the feeling Bernadette put into the Witch. She tries, but oh well. "Any Moment"/"Moments in the Woods" - Gregg Edelman sings it well, but the song is cut. Kerry is lovely once again. Her version is beautiful and I love the new ending, she sings the last few notes an octave higher rather than the blahsome original ending. Wonderful. "Your Fault" - Um, still the same craziness here. "Last Midnight" - There are a couple of new verses added. The Witch now sings to the Baker's baby. Vanessa's version of this song is her most impressive on the recording. I think it's well done. "No More" - This was done well. Stephen DeRosa sings wonderfully and John McMartin does well too. Aw, touching. "No One Is Alone" - Just beautiful. Laura's voice is angelic. Very effective, I loved it. The new harmonies at the end work well and Laura adds a crisp higher note at the end. Yay Laura! "Finale: Children Will Listen" - It begins solemnly as each of the characters lays down his or her advice. It's a bit eerie. Kerry O'Malley once again does a great job. Vanessa is all right I guess, they transposed it down a little for her but it returns to the original key. Laura and Kerry (!) add harmony at the end of the Witch's solo. The ending's the same as the original except that Laura sings the "I wish" sooner than Kim Crosby did in the original. All right, there's my voice about this recording. In all, the score hasn't changed that much, it's still the intriguing and twisted self that Sondheim made it to be. Vanessa sings pleasantly but not emotional enough for the Witch. Laura Benanti is heavenly as Cinderella, just as the original played by Kim Crosby. Kerry O'Malley is just as refreshing as the Baker's Wife. The rest of the cast (minus Marylouise Burke, I'm sorry I just didn't like her Jack's Mother) do a superb job of maintaining a wonderful recording. One thing I have noticed in this version is that all the songs seem rushed somehow, maybe to keep the entire score on one disc. Anyway, it still sounds great, it remains one of my favorites and I will probably see this production soon. So yes, get this CD, it's always delightful to go back for seconds.
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INTO THE WOODS is one of the finest ensemble musicals ever to grace the Broadway stage. The original production with Bernadette Peters and Joanna Gleason was marvelous, so I had high expectations for this revival recording. 
Yes, basically the recording of the new revival of "Into the Woods" sounds the same as the original just with different singers. There are some minor changes, most of them will not make fans cringe. Here's my view on each song on the new recording:
