THE BAKER'S WIFE at Menier Chocolate FactoryHackney Empire pantomime regular Clive Rowe stars as Aimable Castagnet, the new baker in the French village of Concorde in the 1930s. Rowe brings his comedy skills to the role, alongside strong vocals, particularly in the second act. As the titular Baker's Wife, Lucie Jones is a strong performer, with her rendition of Meadowlark being especially moving. The supporting cast of villagers are excellent, with special mention to Jack Gardner, Finty Williams, and the Seadon-Young brothers. Gordon Greenberg's direction and Paul Farnsworth's delightful set draws the audience into the world of the village (and the cakes look delicious too!).
The energetic staging keeps The Baker's Wife interesting, even when the plot is underwhelming. The story revolves around the Castagnets acclimatising to their new surroundings, and around the array of villagers in Concorde and their various troubles, feuds and romances. These sub-plots don't quite have room to breathe and, what's more, the Castagnets storyline not only seems dated and sexist, but is also predictable and lacklustre. Jones and Rowe's performances can't help but be limited by their material, while Joaquin Pedro Valdes puts in an engaging performance as Dominique in the first act, only to all but disappear after the interval.
Schwartz's score is strongest during the songs involving the motley crew of villagers- Bread and Romance were the highlights for me. There are decent ballads, and Matt Cole's choreography is lots of fun, but much of the score is forgettable after the curtain falls.
Despite these imperfections, it's good to see the Menier Chocolate Factory showcase this little-seen show. The Baker's Wife is funny, unusual musical, a must for fans of Wicked, and will definitely get audiences in the spirit for the movie.
