Denis O'Hare to Play The Baker in Public Theater's INTO THE WOODS!

[Jordan Catalano]

Why? Just look at the Duggers.

[SingingChef]

Well, can we have Emily Blunt as Little Red then?

[Owen22]

Dear Hey Mr. Music. Yes, the doubling is actually a spoiler.

[artscallion]

"And a mother could be 42 years older than her son. The Baker being 30 when his sister was born is less believable."

Actually, O'Hare is 50 and Solton (Rapunzel) is 26. So if the baker/Rapunzel's mother had him when she was 18, he would have been 24 when Rapunzel was born. This, ironically, would make Rapunzel's mother exactly 42 years older than her, making it EXACTLY as believable as Jack and his mother's age difference. I love it when **** works out like that.

[Donthatecongratulate]

None of the real ages of these actors matter.
All that matters is the realistic age range that an actor can portray. Even though Adams had (some) edge in "The Fighter" and she's 37, the fact is that she still looks 19.
Denis O'Hare LOOKS old and more like her dad.

And yes, he will portray this character in a very neurotic & flamboyant fashion which will make it very hard to believe that he doesn't want to just go after the prince his damn self.....

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

That's just a wee bit homophobic. Or just ugly.

[blm2323]

Love Denis O'Hare but hope he doesn't sing with the lisp like he did in Assassins. Nearly drove me crazy in an otherwise outstanding production.

[jayinchelsea]

Enough complaining! Denis O'Hare is a terrific actor, the age difference is immaterial, and this cast looks amazing on paper. Let's hope they get it right this time; the revival was a total bore, and made me long for the original cast, but I am very hopeful this time around.

[AC126748]

I'll go in with an open mind. My only problem with O'Hare is that, as others have said, the last half-dozen times I've seen him he's been doing variations on the same performance, whether it suits the character or not.

[henrikegerman]

"Actually, O'Hare is 50 and Solton (Rapunzel) is 26. So if the baker/Rapunzel's mother had him when she was 18, he would have been 24 when Rapunzel was born. This, ironically, would make Rapunzel's mother exactly 42 years older than her, making it EXACTLY as believable as Jack and his mother's age difference. I love it when **** works out like that"

However, if Rapunzel is much younger than the Baker, how does one explain the Baker not having a clue that his mother was pregnant and gave birth to a child. Given the upsetting circumstances of a purloined baby, the pregnancy might have been kept secret from a small child (the mother having hidden it like Agnes of God?), but why would the Baker's parents have hidden this from an adult child?

Of course, this may all be reconciled by O'Hare, who has a certain boyishness (how old was he when he played Dauntless? and on television yet), playing the role younger than he is, and successfully, as has been suggested.

[artscallion]

They just have to take out the line, "I had a brother?! No, you had a sister"

[Owen22]

Brian d'Arcy James. Yes! YES!!! Now my heart hurts he's not doing it. Damn you for suggesting him!!

I also just flashed on the "what if" Debra Messing had been cast as the Baker's Wife. I love me some Amy Adams, but you KNOW you'd love to see that....

[Ourtime992]

I wasn't able to see the British production this is based on, nor will I be able to see this production. Can one of you kind souls PM me with more information about the other character the Baker plays?

[Kad]

I would gladly PM you, but despite the board's upgrade, it seems I am completely unable to send new PMs and am only able to reply to PMs I receive. PM me and I'll give you the lowdown.

[smartpenguin78]

Ridiculous fights over ages and casting notices?
Why have I been away?

It will all come down to the care of the production and the talent involved.
I have seen O'Hare play unexpected roles fantastically at times, and sort of terribly at others. I'm just excited to see the show.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

I don't think anyone explains anything away. I don't think they even think about it. Once the narrator says his sister was called Rapunzel, that's it. The connection is never mentioned or acknowledged again. That's probably why it's never a goddamn issue.

[nasty_khakis]

I don't think the age difference will RUIN the show by any means and I'm sure he will be perfectly fine, but it DOES mention it in the actual text, making it a "goddamn issue."

"In the past, when you were no more than a BABE..."

But it isn't that big of a deal. I mean this is hardly a granny getr yor gun situation with a 65 year old Merman having an 8 year old brother.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Right. Or a Follies situation, with Grandma Sally. And that's not even a fairy tale!

And it's clearly not a goddman issue in this production, or the original production, which is why I don't get all the consternation in this thread. Also, if Little Red is played by an adult in this production, like she was in the one it's based on, isn't THAT something should send everyone over the deep end?

Also, the text says the witch transforms to her state of youth and beauty, so if that text calls Donna Murphy youthful, why wouldn't that apply to O'Hare, who is younger than Murphy? I mean, that's in the text.

[nasty_khakis]

I said in a Witch casting thread that "youth and beauty" is relative. If the Witch is supposed to be fairy tale 500 year old a 50 year old Murphy IS youthful. If she's supposed to live to 200 a 40 year old CJZ/Idina is beautiful. If she's supposed to be an actual human with magic powers then she should be Anne Hathaway or Scarlett Johanson (not casting suggestions, just age/type suggestions).

But I'll take O'Hare over a younger Raul as the Baker any day.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

They should change the text to "relative youth and beauty."

[Kad]

Into the Woods, and this production in particular, is pretty presentational anyway, so it really doesn't matter.

If the audience can accept some branches with leaves are birds (as they were in London, so I assume that won't change), they can accept that Denis O'Hare and Tess Soltau are feasibly estranged siblings.

[Gothampc]

Are they going to change the witch's line "robbing me, raping me"?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Yes.

[singing_physicist]

Awesome! Can't wait!

[jayinchelsea]

Has everyone forgotten the funny, charming performance that O'Hare gave in TAKE ME OUT? He's far more versatile than most of the comments might suggest, so let's keep an open mind!