Into the Woods By Steven Sondheim Characters: Little red Riding Hood, Witch, Prince R, Baker’s wife, Jack, Cinderella’s mother, Cinderella, Baker, Little Riding Hood’s granny, Cinderella’s step sister, Rapunzel, Prince C, Jack’s mom, Giantess, Cinderella’s Step mother, Cinderella’s mother Milky White, Wolf. 1 Prologue: (Once upon a time, in a far-off Kingdom There lay a small village at the edge of the woods) Cinderella: I wish (And in this village) Cinderella: More than anything (Lived a young maiden) Cinderella: More than life, more than jewels (A carefree young lad) Jack: I wish More than life! (And a childless baker) Baker: I wish (With his wife) Baker + Wife: More than anything, more than the moon I wish Cinderella: The King is giving a Festival Jack: more than life I wish Cinderella: I wish to go to the Festival Everyone: More than riches and the ball Jack: I wish my cow would give us some milk Baker: More than anything I wish we had a child Jack: please, pal Wife: I want a child Jack: squeeze, pal Cinderella: I wish to go to the Festival
Jack: I wish you could give us some milk Baker + Wife: I wish we might have a child Everyone: I wish! Steppy: You wish to go to the Festival? (The poor girl's parents had died) Toe+Heal: You, Cinderella, the Festival? Steppy, Toe + Heal: You wish to go to the Festival? The Festival? The King's Festival? (And now she lived with her stepmother) Steppy: The Festival? Ha! (Who had two daughters of her own) Toe: Look at your nails! Heal: Look at your dress! Stepsisters: People would laugh at you Stepsisters + Cinderella: Nevertheless, I still wish to go to the Festival And dance before the prince Stepsisters: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart) (The young lad had no father, and his mother—) Jack’s Mother: I wish (Well, she was at her wit's end) I wish my son were not a fool I wish my house was not a mess I wish the cow was full of milk I wish the walls were full of gold I wish a lot of things OH! What in the world are you doing with the cow inside the house? Jack: I thought if he got nice and warm, he might produce some milk Jack’s Mother: It’s a she, how many times do I have to tell you only shes can give milk? (Slaps) (And then there was a hungry little Girl, who always wore a red cape) LRRH: I wish It's not for me, it's for my granny in the woods A loaf of bread, please To bring my poor old hungry granny in the woods Just a loaf of bread, please Steppy: Cinderella, if you can pick up these lentils, and finish your chores in time, then you may go to the ball with us Come along ladies Stepsisters: Yes, mother Good luck Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Cinderella: Come, little birds Down from the eaves, and the leaves, over fields, out of castles and ponds! Jack: Now, squeeze, pal Cinderella: Laaaaa, Laaaaaaaaaaaa! Laaaaa, Laaaaa, Laaaaa, Laaaaa! Quick, little birds Flick through the ashes Pick and peck but swiftly pick through the ashes, into the pot Jack’s mum: Now listen to me well, son, Milky-White must be taken to market Jack: Mother, no, he's the best cow in the world Jack’s mother: Was! She has been dry for weeks now with no food or money, and no choice but to sell her Jack: But Milky-White's my best friend Jack’s mum: Look at her!! There are bugs on her dugs There are flies in her eyes There's a lump on her rump Big enough to be a hump Jack: but Jack’s mum: We’ve no time to sit and dither While her wither's wither with her And no one keeps a cow for a friend Sometimes I wonder what's goin' on in that head of yours LRRH: Into the woods, it's time to go, I hate to leave, I have to, though Into the woods, it's time, and so, I must begin my journey Into the woods and through the trees to where I am expected, ma'am Into the woods to grandmother's house Into the woods to grandmother's house Baker’s Wife: Are you certain of your way? LRRH: The way is clear, the light is good I have no fear, nor no one should The woods are just trees, the trees are just wood I sort of hate to ask it, but do you have a basket? Baker’s Wife: Yes, we do Baker: I don't suppose you're planning on buying any of these… Baker’s Wife: oh, shh.