So Happy?

Musings on the Act II opener of Into the Woods, with a guest appearance from Glinda

As Act II of Into the Woods begins, it feels for a few fleeting seconds as if a reset button has been pressed. But, just as the Narrator’s opening “Once upon a time” is now “Once upon a time—later,” the familiar initial “I wish…” soon becomes “No, I miss…” And just like that, almost as if they were magic beans, the first seeds of doubt are planted. 

The …