The Baker's Wife

By Joseph Cervelli

When I hear the name of some past musicals a smile comes to my face. One of which is the enchanting (what other word could apply?) "The Baker's Wife." While it never came to Broadway back in the '70's there was an unfinished  studio recording with Paul Sorvino and Patti LuPone who were supposed to have starred. I did see the Papermill production quite a few years ago. It was charming but somewhat overproduced. 

Well, thankfully, that is not the case now as presented at the Classic Stage Company under the wonderfully intuitive direction by Gordon Greenberg. It is astonishing how he makes do with such a large and terrific cast in such a small space. Credit must also be given to the excellent choreography of Stephanie Klemons. And, of course, the gorgeous score by Stephen Schwartz and the sweet book by Joseph Stein ("Fiddler on the Roof.")

Nicely designed by Jason Sherwood the action takes place in a small town in Provence, France. The townspeople are mostly genial to each other living a quiet life. Of course, two of them Claude (the always welcome Robert Cuccioli) and Barnaby (Manu Narayan) refuse to speak to each other for reasons unbeknownst to either. It has been a grudge started by their grandfathers. It is a joy to have Judy Kuhn as Claude's wife Denise back at Classic Stage  where she shone in the recent revival of "I Can Get it For You Wholesale." Included is the priest (a humorous Will Roland) and the tipsy Antoine (Kevin Del Aguila who walked off with the disappointing recent muscial "Some Like it Hot.") There is the witty Marquis (a delightful Nathan Lee Graham) and his supposed three "nieces" (). Arnie Burton as Teacher always has that playful sparkle in his eye in the many roles I have seen him in and does not disppoint here. They are all anxiously awaiting for the new baker and his wife. The last one just recently died and they cannot bear to be without their daily bread. 

Scott Bakula plays the new baker Almable with the charm that Bakula brings to any role. Think back to his performance in "Romance, Romance." He arrives with his much younger wife Genevieve (a stunning Ariana DeBose) whom the townspeople think is his daughter. They seem very much in love  though you do find out that Genevieve had an affair with a married man and sings the lovely "Gifts of Love." It is apparent that she seems in love with him yet has the look of uncertainty. Things go immediately sour when she sees the hunky Dominique (Kevin William Paul) the Marquis' chauffeur. He surely is infatuated with her and married or not he has to have her. She rebuffs his moves until his handsomeness overwhelms her. And it is here that she sings a number that so many of leading musical stars have the simply glorious "Meadowlark" about not passing up an opporutnity to take a chance on someone whom you are overwhelmingly obsessed by. DeBose conveys the song’s meaning perfectly.

It is obvious that they will leave together and that things will eventually go sour. Being with someone who is exceedingly physically appealing can only last so long if there is little more to the relationship. DeBose whose voice is captiviating does a memorable rendtion of "Where is the Warmth?" Having seen DeBose as the fiery Anita in the film verison "West Side Story" and in the Donna Summer musical it is clear how well she can sing but here it is different. She needs to convey the feelings of the various songs at different junctures in her character and could not be better. 

Bakula gives a beautifully nuanced performance as a man completely in love with his wife as witnessed in the sweet “Merci, Madame.” And when she runs off with Dominique, he doesn’t want the town people to think ill of her so it just makes up a story that she’s visiting her mother. 

The show would never have worked without the charisma that both she and Bakula have. You need this possibly even more in a miniature sized show as this particular one.

I would most definitely hope that this production could move to Broadway in a very small house. Circle in the Square would be ideal though it is now taken. Hope the producers could find anotehr. This is too good a production for it to just fade away.

PHOTOS: Valerie Terranova

Tickets are available at the Classic Stage Company 136 East 13th Street.