Idina Menzel's return to Broadway in 'Redwood' delves into escapism, showcasing her character Jesse, who escapes to California's Redwood Forest. The musical, co-created with Tina Landau, symbolically uses redwoods to reflect survival and resilience. While addressing themes of grief and loss, Menzel highlights the show’s underlying humor. The narrative details Jesse's journey comprising grief and denial that culminates in personal catharsis. Menzel's physical performance is notably demanding, as she incorporates vertical dance techniques, exemplifying her commitment to bringing depth to the portrayal.
As the show goes on, viewers learn the reasons Jesse left her life behind, a mixture of grief and denial that builds up to a cathartic breakdown.
The metaphor of the redwoods being a symbol of survival and resilience is something I thought would be a beautiful parallel for us to explore in a musical.
Just like in life, we use our humor to deflect, as a defense mechanism. Everyone has their own way of dealing with loss.
They took me over a roof onto a wall without really giving me a lot of notice.
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