Ariana DeBose to lead THE BAKER'S WIFE at Classic Stage Company — Page 4

I was there last night. There were some seats empty.

I would agree with the general consensus that it is a charming, lovely evening of a very slight musical. The townspeople are adorable and DeBose and Bakula are very good. Bakula is still way too attractive for the plot to make sense.

I think it is worth it just to hear Judy Kuhn and see what Sally Murphy is capable of doing with a small role. Both display a masterclass in musical theatre acting.

I would be shocked if this transferred, but....

The score sounds mostly great, but there are moments when it’s begging for a trumpet and French horn for more oomph and a greater sense of longing.

Which is how I also felt about DeBose’s voice on the two big numbers.

Believing that Ariana could fall for Bakula and then fall for the young man and then go back to Bakula is not the issue here. That was all very believable to me.

The age gaps also weren't significant in the original:
- Topol was 41
- Carole Demas was 36
- Paul Sorvino was 37
- Patti LuPone was 27

Updated On: 11/1/25 at 11:40 AM

Falsettolands said: "Transfer is still very much in consideration. Waiting to hear about a specific closing."

JUST IN TIME, I assume? This staging feels so specific to a thrust... the alternative being a Shubert playhouse, and there are no specifics when aiming for that type of house.

I don't really see it being a bonanza on Broadway, and I don't know that it gets raves from critics at CSC.

Updated On: 11/1/25 at 11:54 AM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Believing that Ariana could fall for Bakula and then fall for the young man and then go back to Bakula is not the issue here. That was all very believable to me.

The age gaps also weren't significant in the original:
- Topol was 41
- Carole Demas was 36
- Paul Sorvino was 37
- PattiLuPone was 27"

And Kurt Peterson was 28 I believe. I have heard one of several reasons Demas was replaced was people felt she "read" too old, so there is that... It is interesting that Aimables have gotten older... (I doi think that, having not seen it, having DeBose as Genevieve removes some of the aspects I associate with the character in the film anyway--the idea that she's never had the opportunity to be with someone else before she ended up married to Aimable.)

For the record in the original French film, Aimable (Raimu) was 55 (which in 1938 read as older than now,) Aurelie (as Genevieve is named, played by Ginette Leclerc) was 25 and Dominique (Carles Moulin) was 29.

Updated On: 11/1/25 at 08:35 PM

I’m seeing this next Sunday, can’t wait

This is probably the best production of the show we’re likely to really ever get. Yes, it’s an imperfect musical but it’s an A+ production of that imperfect musical with a cast where there’s just no weak link to be found.

I was curious about a cast recording also, so I inquired to someone involved and was told (to paraphrase) “probably since they’re actively looking at moving the show”.

Will it happen? Who knows. But with a cast like this in a season like this, I would hope so.

MemorableUserName said: "
The actor who played the love interest...was the weak point and his performance didn't really workfor me. I'll leave it at that."

Different cast, but that was an issue with the Menier production, as well. Is it a particularly hard role to cast? Dominic is one of the characters who has been the most revised since the original--a lot of new lyrics as well as revised dialogue. Schwartz has said that before he seemed too superficial, and as someone who saw Genevieve as a new conquest. In the rewrites, they claim, they have reshaped the character to be someone who is "in love with love" and that blinds him to the destruction he leaves in his path. But... I don't really get that from the revised version myself (and I think the revised Proud Lady lyrics are often awkward in that way Schwartz sometimes can be :P

" She splits my senses at the seams
She sends a shiver up my spine
I see her body in my dreams
And if she's normal, she sees mine
She's all i'm ever thinking of
Her mouth, her hair, and all the rest
I think all women should have love
And one like her should have... The best!"

Huh?

EricMontreal22 said: "MemorableUserName said: "
The actor who played the love interest...was the weak point and his performance didn't really workfor me. I'll leave it at that."

Different cast, but that was an issue with the Menier production, as well. Is it a particularly hard role to cast?

What is somewhat amusing about this is that Scott Bakula was a terrific Dominique in the “world premiere” Cincinnati Playhouse production in 1980 before the character was revised.

I also saw the show yesterday and loved it —however, I’m baffled as to why the director would choose to stage the song that everyone is there to hear in a way that makes it difficult for nearly a third of the audience to fully see and hear properly?

TaffyDavenport said: "her distracting French accent sounded almost identical to her Puerto Rican one from WSS definitely contributed to it."

Does she speak only French words with an accent or all of her dialogue?

Does everyone else have accents? Is there any character who is not French to require a distinction between characters? Why have accents if everyone is French?

A producer is now promoting this show as ‘Broadway bound’ on social media. Opening is tonight.