Scan barcode
sraymartin's review
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lhawk1's review against another edition
This is not a book to be read. You really need to just watch it.Then there is no lost information, it is faster and far more enjoyable, and you don't have to suffer through the long and painful overlapping, interrupting, and everything in between, transcribed songs.
Just watch it. It's fantastic... But not to read.
Just watch it. It's fantastic... But not to read.
poetkoala's review against another edition
4.0
Having participated in this play my senior year of high school, I had no idea this was an option for reading it...this just means I have to go through and double check that other musicals I've read aren't here...
But I love this take on fairy tales, it's dark and it's funny, and sometimes deeply moving! Lots of fun!
But I love this take on fairy tales, it's dark and it's funny, and sometimes deeply moving! Lots of fun!
c_e_r_98's review against another edition
5.0
First play I ever did! Sondheim's witty lyrics and deep emotions make this fairy tale seem real, especially when put to music and on the stage.
musicallyaligned's review against another edition
5.0
This musical is so beautiful in that it is deceivingly light-hearted and yet viscerally a deeply existential work. The message of the work is transmitted in such a nuanced fashion, leaving readers unexpectedly transformed and in deep pontification by its conclusion. It so delicately subverts thé meaning of what a fairy tale is by actually humanizing the characters in Act 2 — albeit, this can feel alarming at first; yet, by doing so, the work opens up the way for us to reimagine what a fairy tale truly means in a real life context. Though we may not be able to lead perfect lives by any means, we all have the capacity to evolve and develop our character and selfhood over time. The text and songs resonate so deeply in my soul. I loved reading the libretto and will forever cherish this work.
jonathanwlodarski's review against another edition
3.0
I'm all about fairy tale retellings, and this one was a lot of fun for the first act, but it gets muddled for the second act: the problem with a huge ensemble musical is that it's easy to lose focus on character development. The songs aren't much fun, especially at the end, when they can't seem to decide what the message is. Characters die left and right but it doesn't feel particularly meaningful. Bleh.
3/5
3/5