The Baker's Wife
I have been to the Menier Chocolate Factory before and had heard they do wonderful things with the space, but I could not have imagined the transformation that has taken place. The set construction by Illusion Design and Construct was phenomenal—it was like walking straight into a scene from your favourite fairy-tale.
The actors were already in place, smoking and playing boules. They even asked a few audience members to join in while they waited. On that note, later in the show you may be asked to get up and have a little dance, but that is the extent of audience participation.
Finty Williams, in the role of Hortense, welcomes us to this small provincial French town. There is some French dialogue to aid in setting the atmosphere, but it soon fades out to English. Williams and her on-stage husband Claude (Norman Pace) have such a wonderful dynamic throughout, with comments, looks, and even a flower which made me quite emotional.
Director Gordon Greenberg made these small moments, and many others, intricately build this world on stage. This was echoed in the choreography by Matt Cole, with so many wonderfully timed moments in the crowd scenes. As far as reviews go, this is 100% chef’s kiss!
There is no main character in this show. The whole cast, full of amazing performers, works so well together I wouldn’t change any of them. However, purely because of the title, I should mention the Baker and his wife: Clive Rowe and Lucie Jones, both of whom you may have seen in other shows. Seeing Rowe work through a vast range of emotions on stage was a treat, from sprightly playful to drunk and rolling on the floor. Every moment was just a joy to watch. Jones's acting is only topped by her incredible voice, and she is aptly given a solo to showcase this. As I said earlier, there are no main characters. These two possibly spend less time on stage than some of the other wonderful cast members, but it is the work of the cast as a whole that makes this a runaway success.
If I were to make any adjustments, it would only be in the relationship between Barnaby and Denise (Liam Tamne and Josefina Gabrielle). Some of the lines hint towards domestic abuse, but the delivery either needs to be sharper and understated or snappy and fed up.
The way it is written makes the characters pop to life, with the usual village meetings and decades-old arguments. The situation between Marquis and the Nieces collectively (Michael Matus, Bobbie Chambers, Hana Ichijo, and Robyn Rose) led to so many jokes and moments that were perfect. Being a large cast for a small intimate thrust stage makes every little detail stand out while keeping you feeling like you’re part of the action.
Despite the adultery, I would definitely call this a 'wholemeal' family show. I’m in love with The Baker's Wife and will be recommending it to everyone.
This show was reviewed on the 18th July 2024 at the Menier Chocolate Factory where it runs until the 14th September 2024. Tickets available here: Buy The Baker's Wife tickets | Menier Chocolate Factory Official Box Office
Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides
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Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
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