What is real?

In my class we have been watching the video of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. As many times as I watch this or study the libretto or even remember the lyrics of the songs, they always hit me.

We are talking about the work as a piece of 20th Century Non-Realistic Theatre...as musicals are, since the world of theatre theory does not believe that people burst into song in real life (they need to follow me around for 24 hours!) . Anyway, as "unreal" as musicals are, there are some that resonate with me in terms of their sub textual message. This one...WOW!

There is so much packed into one musical it is almost overwhelming. Contemporary issues like the consequences of getting what we "wish," our inability to be satisfied with what we have and always looking for more or better. Sondheim creatively addresses issues of family; biological or created, questions of right and wrong, dark and light, working for our own purposes or the greater good, how the "witches" of the world can often be right and we are wrong, that "bad' people can be good only different from us.

Lines like "it takes patience and fear and despair to change" or "careful the things you say, children will listen" resonate with my heart and my mind. Realities like "sometimes people leave you halfway through the woods. Others may deceive you. You decide what's good. You decide alone." these are realities in my world.

So, while some are busy analyzing what is real and what is not, some of us would rather wallow in what speaks. There are so many things in this world the bring about a visceral response in me...movies, music, plays, characters, songs, poems...why does one have to be 'real' and the other "non-real" when they both elicit that same response.

Maybe someday we'll be allowed to decide for ourselves what is real? I doubt it but it's an interesting idea...