LOS ANGELES — During a recent performance of “Into the Woods,” Sebastian Arcelus had an idea.
“I was in the moment, I was present, I was making a bold choice and sticking to it!” he told The Times, excitedly recalling his oversized gestures and animated line delivery as the Baker. While Arcelus tried to get the audience on board, Stephanie J. Block, who plays the Baker’s Wife, whispered that the bit was too much; they then both broke character and laughed through the rest of the scene.
“We try things every single night, in front of 2,000 people — sometimes we knock it out of the park, and sometimes, it’s just terrible,” Block explained. “That’s the beauty of live theater: Let’s just go for it and see how it lands.”
