Paper Mill serves fresh, sumptuous, whole-grained 'Baker's Wife' - nj star-ledger- Page 2

[CHLKnCHS]

Posted: 4/26/05 at 11:26pm

I saw the show on Sunday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was my first PaperMill production and I only live about a 10 minute drive from the place!

You could have knocked me over with a feather after hearing what a voice Lenny Wolpe has ("Merci Madame" was stuck in my head for at least a day). Gay Marshall was tremendous as Denise as was Alice Ripley as Genevieve. And Max VonEssen really kicked it with his "Proud Lady". But I've heard him before so I knew he would!

Not too mention that he is very easy on the eyes.

I highly recommend catching this limited run production before it's history. It's fun.

Mary T

[Alix7272]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 8:59pm

i saw it today and it was so great! i got to sit in the first row, which i have never done before and i'll just say, what a view!

everyone was great, especially Gay Marshall and Max VonEssen, who unfortunately almost disappeared in the second act. they took out the song he sings w/ genevieve while their away (blanking on the name but it's on the broadway recording) and so he didn't sing at all in the second act which was really dissapointing. his appearance in the hotel room was a help, but not enought. his songs were great in the first act though, of course. i'd never seen him live before. he's so captivating to watch!

i hope they make a recording of this version. it has a lot of changes from the broadway version. in the first act they made dominique less shallow with his first song, which i thought was good. some of the other changes went both ways - some i liked, some i didn't. i never knew that the dialogue was so funny. i really enjoyed that.

the ending troubled me for some reason. that one song didn't convince me enough that genevieve was ready to go back to the baker, even though i felt for him.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:06pm

Going next week and can't wait.

What I have been wondering is why the major New York papers have yet to run reviews of it. They usually do, and the show has been officially open for two weeks.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:11pm

how is alice's rendition of medowlark??? i am sure she belts her heart out!!!!!! tell me about her performence??? thanks :)

[Alix7272]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:14pm

medowlard wasn't dissapointing. it was less melodic at some points then the CD of the broadway production which is all i have to compare too. i'm not expert, but personally, i felt that the song didn't go naturally with her voice but that she put a lot of emotion into it so it came across well.

other than that, her performance was very enjoyable to watch. her facial expressions are very subtle most of the time but i liked it that way.

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:23pm

did alice stop the show with medowlark??

[Cicero]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:29pm

Alice certainly belted her meadowlark and she was amazing. I was never a big fan of her soprano voice but her rendition of meadowlark blew me away. She was terrific as Genevieve. I like her version better than any of the two Patti recordings. The rest of the cast is amazing. This is a great productions. I wish Baker's Wife would someday come to Broadway. The London production got eclipsed by Miss Saigon but the mega musicals with helicopters, falling chandeliers and constantly revolving stage are losing their appeal. Hopefully Baker's Wife comes to Broadway when this trend of hit compilations musicals is over - Mamma Mia, All Shook Up, Good Vibrations, Lennon the planned Sedaka musical - Enough!

[CherylA928]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 5:32pm

It is a sweet fable enlivened by Schwartz's gorgeous score. Its best known number is 'Meadowlark,' a bittersweet retelling of a fairy tale. Alice Ripley, in the title role, gives the extraordinary song every benefit of her powerhouse voice.

Lenny Wolpe could not be more winning as the hapless baker. As the cad who steals Ripley, Max von Essen is simply stunning, especially in 'Proud Lady.'



The NY Daily News Review ~ 'Baker's' is a refined flower

Updated On: 4/29/05 at 05:32 PM

[Alix7272]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 7:55pm

people clapped a little longer than your average clap but it didn't stop the show.

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 9:40pm

Saw the production last week and loved it. Alice is amazing as Genevieve.

[CherylA928]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 2:15pm

"After years of wondering, musical theatre buffs can finally see The Baker's Wife as it was meant to be seen, and thanks to the folks at Paper Mill, the results are delicious indeed.

But fair warning ~~ only go if you are prepared to fall in love..."

Musicals101.com Review ~ The Baker's Wife

[CherylA928]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 8:32pm

.... It's a precursor to the deeper passions that will fly in Stein and Schwartz' fable about this tiny French hamlet that entrances and ultimately, stirs theatergoers' hearts.....


AmericanTheaterWeb.com ~ Paper Mill's The Baker's Wife Charms

[CherylA928]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 9:05am

....Director Gordon Greenberg has delivered a wonderful production, featuring a beautiful set design by Anna Louizos and a first-rate cast. Wolpe is utterly endearing as the baker. Ripley is both sexy and highly sympathetic as his wife, and the handsome Von Essen is convincing as the man who sweeps her away...
New York Post Review ~ Baker's Strife Has Wit