The Baker's Wife

The challenge is in the first half. It’s not the best written book with a slight story taxing the cast to drive it forward. The cast each present a rounded character which shows the quality work which has gone into rehearsal. However, in presenting those characters they have not knitted together to show us a long established community. Despite or because of this good character development, the audience miss the tight focus on the central story, maybe director Marc Kelly could address this. They need to listen carefully and react realistically – we need more sparks to fly in the bickering, more grounding for the arguments to flare from.

 

There should be more laughs. In the show I saw, the cast were too aware of laying down the line to get the laugh, rather than delivering it naturally and letting the audience decide if it deserved one.

 

There is some excellent (uncredited) choreography, delightfully moving many players in a small space. Design and use of the space is economical yet evocative.

 

Kieran Stallard as musical director provides brilliant backing for the show – the intricate arrangement for simple piano works well. Elizabeth Chadwick as Denise acts as narrator and shows skill in moving the story forward through song, something many of her peers need to develop. Some of the acting is unconvincing, but each performer impresses in song, and some need to concentrate on showing us how their lyric moves the story along

 

This show has much promise. When the cast settle and timings are more acute, it will grow into it’s 4 stars.