Into the Woods 2025

Dark Woodland Themes- untangling Into the Woods

On the face of it, the premise of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods seems to be a charming tale of several fairy-tale characters who go ‘into the woods’ to get their wish; and maybe for many audience members, they are quite happy for the show to end at the interval when that appears to have been achieved.

However, the underlying themes are darker and much more complex; and, like the origin of the stories themselves by the Brothers Grimm, are intended to help the reader to navigate some of the harsher realities of life.

In particular, the younger characters encounter the pain and difficulties of growing up, whilst parent/child relationships are also under scrutiny; and all have to learn the inevitable consequences of pursuing their desires and compromising their integrity.

Act 2 addresses the question of ‘what happens after the ‘happy-ever-after’? 

Achieving their wishes brings new problems and responsibilities and along with the introduction of a new danger which threatens them all, moral choices have to made between selfish desires and the communal good.  

The harsher themes are balanced with brilliant comic moments and characters, albeit erring towards black comedy; but all the characters are ultimately journeying towards their self-knowledge, acceptance of the compromises necessary to negotiate life’s challenges, and the need for no one to be alone.

Into the Woods. Bob Hope Theatre, Eltham. 2-5 April 2025.