THE CAKE - Manhattan Theatre Club

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/13/19 at 10:38pm

Just saw this. It is simply a very, very good play in all ways - writing, direction, acting, set, and lighting. It's just a great evening in the theatre. A topical story told extremely well with humor and compassion for both sides. 

A very religious baker in North Carolina (a masterful Debra Jo Rupp) has just been cast as one of 12 contestants on America's most popular baking show when the daughter of her late best friend bursts into her shop and wants her to bake her wedding cake.....for her gay wedding. Conflict ensues. 

The play examines all sides of this debate and is sympathetic to both sides. Debra Jo Rupp is simply magnificent in a very difficult role. 

I don't want to write too much more, because this has a few twists and turns, and it does not necessarily end as you might expect. But it's all pretty wonderful. Highly recommended.

 

 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 3:20pm

Thanks for the review. It seems to have been very successful in regional theater before coming to NYC and I’m thinking of seeing it in Fayetteville, NC to see it in the setting where it takes place.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 4:46pm

Have they sent out a 30 under 35 for this?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 4:52pm

I was in a play by Bekah Brunstetter a year ago, so this has been on my radar. Glad to see it's getting good reviews!

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 5:31pm

perfectliar said: "Have they sent out a 30 under 35 for this?"

Yes, I got mine around 1/25.

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 6:59pm

I saw it a couple of years ago in a regional production in North Carolina. I didn’t think the ending was very satisfying and didn’t make its position clear. I hope the author has done some work in the interim.

I can, however, imagine Rupp being magnificent in the central role.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 2/14/19 at 8:54pm

the.hard.part said: "perfectliar said: "Have they sent out a 30 under 35 for this?"

Yes, I got mine around 1/25."

Thanks. I didn't get mine and will have to contact them. I read this play about a year ago and loved it, so I'm glad to hear positive things so far.

[CarmenA3]

Posted: 2/15/19 at 3:59pm

I saw this both up in Barrington last summer and here at MTC for its first preview. Debra Jo Rupp is brilliant - she's perfect for the role. Highly recommend seeing it if you can - Todaytix has $25 rush tickets. The show is in great shape already!

I really wish they would have cupcakes or cake slices for sale (alá Waitress). All the talk of the cakes (strawberry lemonade, carrot and red velvet) left me craving some! :)

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/15/19 at 7:01pm

I enjoyed this more than I expected.

These days, it’s rare that you get to see a play that presents genuinely challenging issues for NYC liberals. Too often you see plays where the whole sociopolitical message is just “racism is bad” or “homophobia is bad” or “sexism is bad” etc. And the NYC liberals rave about these shows, calling them “powerful” and “important” for telling us things we already know and agree with.

But this play presents a point of view that’s genuinely tough to grapple with. How do we, as liberals, learn to empathize with our fellow human beings who hold outdated or harmful beliefs? How can we find common ground? How do we go about dealing with these people? How do we reconcile the idea that someone can be a generally good person while also being prejudice? And I admit, I really wrestle with these questions personally, and that’s why I appreciate this play. I’m tired of seeing politically-motivated plays that align with my opinions 100%. Because otherwise, what’s the point? This play chose to take the harder road of humanizing someone with deep moral flaws, without leaving us with a homophobic message.

On top of all that, it’s a solidly-written play, and Rupp is wonderful.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 2/16/19 at 4:36am

saw this at the Geffen last year in LA and loved it and if this was on broadway Debra would be receiving a TONY nomination, she is phenominal in this. 

[all_that_jazz]

Posted: 2/26/19 at 5:39pm

Hadn't heard of this before seeing it on Today Tix. Got a rush seat for the show and so glad I did.

The Cake is a wonderful play. I was a little afraid we were just gonna see a rehash of what we see in the news..baker bad customer good. But the writing is wonderful and not only delves into the struggles and feelings of both sides but also shows different angles from the couple. Of course the added personal connection adds so much more to the story.

I think the writing was thoughtful, layered and poignant. Starting a real conversation and not lecturing one side or the other.

Performances were very strong. Debra is just a remarkable performer. I mean you could probably give her a stool, a spotlight and the phonebook to read and she would make it a hilarious evening. Her portrayal was simply beautiful as she evolved over her struggle and the balance of humour and emotion was splendid. I think it is a must see event.

Just as an aside...i usually am not one for 90 minute shows. I figure if I am going to pay that money I want full length 2 and a half hour show. Or they seem sped through and not fully fleshed out. The Cake packs everything it needs into its time. It feels like a full satisfying evening covering everything you want and need without feeling shortchanged or dragging.
The staging is well done and the theater doesnt swem to have any partial view with how the set it.

As far as a rush note. My seats were row H seat 5. So inner isle perfect view.

Highly reccomend.

[phan24]

Posted: 2/26/19 at 10:03pm

I saw it last week and completely agree with the above posters, this show is a gem and I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz about it. I laughed and cried and the performances are just top notch.

If you can go, I highly recommend doing so!

(I think Debra Jo Rupp would make a great Hillary Clinton on stage, maybe in the future!)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/26/19 at 11:27pm

I saw this last week and kind of agree. I don't think it's a knock-out smash or anything, but I was entertained. It felt long, even though it was only 90mins. The performances were great, and I thought Debra Jo Rupp was fantastic. It's a sweet little play, but it never reached big, dramatic heights or gut-busting laughs. Just a solid play.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 2/28/19 at 1:16pm

I really did not care for this play (don't seem to be alone, there were quite a few mid-show walk outs last night).

While I think Rupp is doing a fine job I just feel nothing for this character or any of the character really. It's trying to say she can't be a bigot and have bigoted beliefs because she's nice to a girl she knew growing up and because she has personal problems in her life. The narrative of "bigots are people too" is not something I need to hear in 2019. Sure, she said she didn't vote for "that man" but you're still discriminating against people for a terrible reason.

They try to achieve some sort of  "fairness" by making one of the lesbian couple such a cliche parody of a "New York Liberal"--she doesn't eat dairy or gluten and she likes to argue! So the play isn't like most modern statement plays where it's one "right" person lecturing the audience who agrees with them going in by having them talk to a "bad/wrong" character, but it's still making a weird point that we should think about these poor bigots lives. Sure, we should have empathy for all people and I can sympathize with the character's problems, but it comes down to we disagree but I still want her to have rights and she doesn't want me to have them.

As a Southerner who grew up in a church (albeit not a hellfire and brimstone one) I think they wanted me to relate a bit more, but it ultimately left me cold.

There was also a weird moment I didn't understand but I'll still put it in a spoiler--

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

At one moment when she feels rejected by her husband sexually she takes off her wig and tosses it into a trash can. Earlier in the play she makes a reference to just getting her hair done and looks in the mirror a couple of times so I don't understand why they need to show it was a wig, especially since her hair underneath was pretty similar to the wig in length and color. It didn't seem to add any emotional weight to the moment, in fact, it made me giggle to myself in a moment where I shouldn't be.

 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 4/20/19 at 11:01pm

CarmenA3 said: "
I really wish they would have cupcakes or cake slices for sale (alá Waitress). All the talk of the cakes (strawberry lemonade, carrot and red velvet) left me craving some! :)"

FWIW they actually gave out free cake slices at the end of each of the  cape fear regional theaters (Fayetteville, nc) productions. Guess they lucked out to get a bakery as one of their sponsors! Seems like there were some differences in play itself too since didn’t have part about wig.