Music
Ask
my husband what Into the Woods- is about and he’d tell you all
he saw was a bunch of silly people running around singing over each other.
Ask me and I’d tell you the theme is hidden.
I thought that it was about
love at first, and it is, but not the way I originally supposed. The Baker’s wife and Cinderella’s Prince
get together, but it’s not about stolen love. Rapunzel and her Prince
were the parents of twins, but it’s not about married love.The Giant’s
wife seeks revenge, but it’s not about undying love.
These days I think that Into the Woods- is about family, specifically the family you make. Holli and I were talking about this concept just today. So many people of our generation live and work hours, even days from their parents that we kind of do the Mary Richards thing and create our own family. The people we work with, go to the gym with, sing in choir with become our surrogate parents, siblings, children. We don’t see our own family that often so we form a new one.
I also think that Into the Woods- is about parenthood. I’ve never had any children so I don’t know what it is like to raise a baby into adulthood only to have him or her become their own person and move away from you, but I do understand the concept of time moving too fast. The kids who were in the youth group I used to lead are now out of college with children of their own. The first baby I kept in the church nursery here is now in first grade. Abby, my niece, is no longer the two day old baby I first met in a hospital room. Instead, she is a busy little person in her own right, twenty months old and learning her “ABC’s”.
I have days where I get it. I look around at every terrible thing that can, has and will happen and want to stop time. I want for my two year old cousin Kyle to be able to play blocks forever, for the children I teach in Sunday School to be able to always clap their hands to “Jesus Loves Me”. I, like the Witch, want to heartbrokenly sing:
“This is the world I meant.
Couldn't you listen?
Couldn't you stay content,
Safe behind walls,
As I
Could not?”
And I remind myself that, even though I haven’t had any yet:
No matter what you say,
Children won't listen.
No matter what you know,
Children refuse
To learn.
Guide them along the way,
Still they won't listen.
Children can only grow
>From something you love
To something you lose.
It’s a sad musical in a way, with many of the characters ending up dead by the end. Still, I like it. When I’m feeling disconnected, it helps to remind me that families don’t have to be born, they can be chosen. When I’m lonely, it helps to remind me that there are others who feel the same things I do. It reinforces much to me about community and hope and love and relationships.
Still though, Mary, Murray and Ted did the same thing. Only in their world no one died but for Chuckles. Poor guy.