Old world charm permeates every moment of this bittersweet, wise and gently offbeat fable of life, love and bread by Joseph Stein ("Fiddler On The Roof") and Stephen Schwartz ("Godspell," "Pippin," "Children of Eden" and the films "Pocahontas," "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame" and "The Prince Of Egypt").brbrThe bickering residents of a small Provencal town at last find peace and contentment in the heavenly bread of the newly arrived baker and his attractive young wife, but when she is lured away by the attentions of a handsome young gigolo, the middle-aged baker loses all zest for life and baking, throwing the community into chaos.
Nearly 50 years in, The Baker’s Wife is still unlikely to transfer to Broadway. (Though Schwartz’s royalty checks continue to arrive, thanks to Wicked, and the newly opened The Queen of Versailles.) It feels, at times, anachronistic against Jason Sherwood’s nostalgic scenic design. And yet, the croissant, insubstantial as it is, has a time-honored tradition behind every fold.
Based on the Marcel Pagnol film, “The Baker’s Wife” was supposed to open on Broadway in 1976, or thereabouts, but shuttered on its way to New York City, the most likely culprit being the abominable showman-producer David Merrick. Productions have popped up here and there over the years, and fortunately for New Yorkers, a stellar production of “The Baker’s Wife” opened Tuesday at the Classic Stage Company. It’s by far the year’s best revival of a stage musical. If there’s any justice, this long-neglected musical by Joseph Stein and Stephen Schwartz will finally make it to Broadway with this great ensemble completely intact.
| 1976 | Broadway |
Closed on the road Broadway |
| 1980 | Regional (US) |
Regional Revival Regional (US) |
| 1982 | Regional (US) |
West Coast Revival Regional (US) |
| 1983 | New York |
Workshop New York |
| 1985 | Off-Off-Broadway |
York Theatre Company Production Off-Off-Broadway |
| 1986 | Regional (US) |
West Coast Revival Regional (US) |
| 1989 | West End |
London Revival West End |
| 2005 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
| West End |
West End |
|
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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