The Baker's Wife - Menier Chocolate Factory

Talking of cats, how do they do Pompom? I'm assuming they haven't brought in one trained at a Russian cat circus

I've got a cheap restricted view Today Tix seat and now find I may be behind the action. If puppetry I'm adjusting my expectations to an evening looking at Pompom's papier mache and felt dot bum.

Pompom started out as a living cat when rehearsals started, but when he read the script and saw the ticket sales , he went to Dignicat and ended his life.

Reviews aren't bad! Going tonight so shall report back! Assuming there is no air-con!!!

It's another press night tonight as they couldn't fit everyone in last night

I'm not sure if tonight is more press actually or just industry people...maybe the bloggers too?

Thanks so much for this 🙂

I remember seeingnthe Fantastics at the Duchess as well. It was one of the most boring shows I've ever seen and just couldn't understand why it had run in NY for so many years.

I saw The Baker's Wife last night, only knowing "Meadowlark" and nothing else. I adored it. I was at one of the cafe tables. Having the extremely talented Josefina Gabrielle singing right at me was like a dream. The entire cast are PHENOMENAL. The set design is the most beautiful I've seen at the Menier, you really are transported to France.

I spoke to one of the front of house team about the restaurant and toilets, they told me that that area isn't part of the Menier and owned by a different company since the closure of the restaurant during COVID. It's a shame as it's such a great space and would love the Menier to reopen their restaurant. I admire that they have been giving their bar area a facelift and trying with the space they have.

With a history dating back to the 1970s, the project seemed sure to be an out-of-town flop in the US but the esteemed director Trevor Nunn was able to knead it into shape across the pond decades later.

Nunn’s influence on the show still resonates today in this latest revival at the Menier, directed this time by Gordon Greenberg. One of the biggest challenges Schwartz and book-writer Joseph Stein faced was how to make this chamber piece reach beyond the wife’s narrative and to push the villagers to the forefront. That achievement is vivid here.

Lucie Jones marvels as Genevieve. The song ‘Meadowlark’ has arguably outgrown the show itself (Nunn cited its popularity in auditions as the reason he was attracted to the original London project). But Jones makes it her own. In fact, her soaring vocals and forthright character portrayal almost give the song new meaning, providing a genuinely show-stopping moment.

She is performing opposite Clive Rowe, seen most recently as bumbling cop Steady Eddie in Sister Act. Of course, he is able to turn on the comedy as is required but he also was capable of stunning the audience into a hushed silence, catching them off-guard in some of Aimable’s more exposed and tender moments. The relationship between the baker and his wife undoubtedly calls for chemistry and Jones and Rowe have found it it in abundance.

This production has a stacked cast. From Josefina Gabrielle’s pondersome Denise, to Joaquin Pedro Valdes giving a second show-stopping moment with his exquisite rendition of ‘Proud Lady’, it is absolutely an ensemble piece. The scenes with all the villagers (such as opening number ‘If It Wasn’t For You’ are real highlights.

But, of course, that was the magic Schwartz had been looking for all those years ago when he embarked on this project. Genevieve’s journey of love, lust and marital conflict really is the heartbeat of the show that allows the ensemble to breathe so wonderfully. Paul Farnsworth’s set incorporates all of Menier’s limited space and the audience would be forgiven for thinking they actually were enjoying a glass of red in a French village square. There are even moments of immersive theatre as audience members are invited to dance and take part in pentaque.

Although Stein’s book is sometimes a little lacking in depth (the morals of various characters and resolution of their stories are enough to raise an eyebrow), the atmosphere and aesthetic of the show more than makes up for any shortcomings.


Four stars.

Going to try for Rush today

If you are anywhere near D58 would you mind reporting back if I am going to have a big pillar in the way when I got and see it?

What a mad venue, no signs letting you know where to go in, and builders literally ripping out the floorboards as you pass them