In my life, it was a good thing

‘No More’, one of the lesser-known songs from Into the Woods, is the launching pad for this personal article that explores both Sondheim’s lyrical legacy and his direct impact on the author’s understanding of her relationship with her father over a 30-year period. The article uses ‘No More’ to trace the author’s journey from 16-year-old encountering Into the Woods for the first time to 46-year-old deciding to leave an academic career while witnessing a complex father in slow decline. It examines the ways a ‘quest musical’ can help us craft (and recraft) stories about our lives as we are living them, and it explores how Sondheim’s songs unveil themselves in new, surprising ways over time – how his work speaks to multiple audiences at once. This article is also a homage to a life lived in academic theatre and a fond (partial) farewell to the cradle that world creates.