We round up the reviews for this revival of Stephen Schwartz’s musical.
Broadway World: **** “A charming production that finds sweetness in its bitter themes of infidelity and forgiveness, The Baker’s Wife’s’ message remains timeless. A gentler offering from Stephen Schwartz’s catalogue, this immersive show whisks you away to a time long past with a phenomenal ensemble who find the heart and soul in their characters.”
WhatsOnStage: **** “Currently, Greenberg’s technically ambitious production is tonally inconsistent and sometimes lacks urgency: it feels as though it needs slightly longer to bed in. However, with its luxury casting and lush visuals, this satisfying, delicate confection is already a heady delight.”
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “It all adds up to a compassionate portrait of flawed human beings: alternately supportive and suspiciously judgemental, capable of mistakes and of forgiveness. Likewise, their rustic paradise can become suffocating, particularly its baked-in misogyny. But there is also joy to be found in the imperfect, and this slice-of-life musical is ultimately a celebration of the everyday – and the small acts of kindness that can change everything.”
Time Out: **** “This particular show also benefits from director-of-musicals extraordinaire Greenberg’s in-depth familiarity with it, having previously directed a critically acclaimed U.S. revival in 2005. Crucially, he understands that romance is only one strand of the story and that perhaps the most important ‘character’ is the village itself. That’s where this production truly rises to the occasion. From the staging – which sits us on either side of designer Paul Farnsworth’s rustic French fantasia – to the way some scenes play out amidst us, we’re always brought up close to the supporting characters.”
The Telegraph: *** “The plot’s lightweight and the songs so-so, but this comedy about French marital infidelity here gets an undeniably spirited revival.”
The Stage: **** “Charmingly staged production that breathes life into the characters and passion into the music.”
The Guardian: *** “Memorable food films (Babette’s Feast, Ratatouille) often show killjoys transformed by scoff, horizons broadening as their bellies fill. This nostalgic musical is no classic, but it too shows hearts and minds sweetened by steady affection and our daily bread.”
Theatre Weekly: **** “As the Menier is transformed into a traditional French town square, cabaret seating allows some audience members to sit ‘outside’ the tavern, but even for the rest of us it feels like we’re there, and part of the community. Director Gordon Greenberg has crafted a production that honours the show’s roots while giving it a freshness.”
British Theatre Guide: “The Baker’s Wife is a chamber work full of pleasing music and well matched to the Menier. The whole company deliver. Enjoy it!”
The Baker’s Wife continues to play until the 14th September. To book tickets visit:https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/tickets/the-bakers-wife/