The Baker's Wife - Menier Chocolate Factory

[max]

Aug 4, 2024 13:24:13 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

Aug 4, 2024 10:27:56 GMT unseaworthy said:

I wonder if the pricing puts people off - even the cheap seats are over £50

Actual joke for a venue as rundown as the Menier. Can’t justify it unfortunately :/

I didn't try the loos, but I didn't think the venue was anything like as bad as others have found it. In fact, on a hot London day the first room (that used to be the restaurant) was amazingly cool and a positive asset. The 'showcase' of artefacts just before the auditorium looks naff - like a community hall trophy cabinet. But everything else is fine and friendly.

I was impressed by the way the immersive set carried on right to the edges of the auditorium and the side of the seating banks - this was no half measures effort.

Agree though that it's not compelling enough for the big money - TodayTix have Rush for £29.50 which feels about right. I was lucky to get a 24hr deal a while back for £15 but with restricted view (that wasn't too restricted).

[joonas]

I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the venue either. It wasn’t even that hot when I went.

As much as I enjoyed the show, I don’t really see how it could survive in the West End though. Or how they could recreate the same atmosphere in a bigger space.

[max]

Aug 4, 2024 15:46:39 GMT joonas said:

I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the venue either. It wasn’t even that hot when I went.

As much as I enjoyed the show, I don’t really see how it could survive in the West End though. Or how they could recreate the same atmosphere in a bigger space.

I can't really see it either.  If they played the immersive angle big then the production shots would be attractive, and what seems cute off West End would be more unusual in the West End - the petanque games with the audience etc(though Red Pitch had a kickabout with the audience in the same venue tbf). Push all that further like Mamma Mia The Party - not that I've seen that or ever will. I think it would need name recognition in the cast - but they're not going to throw over their talented principal performers surely. Doesn't seem a v convincing transfer prospect and with such a large cast.

'Keep the French summer going' would have to be the angle with alluring production pics.

[marob]

Sohoplace hasn’t exactly set the world alight either though. Lot of papering/offers for most of their shows so far. (Shame Challengers didn’t come out around the time Brokeback Mountain was on as that show deserved a bigger audience.)

[alece10]

I went to see this at yesterdays matinee and really enjoyed it. It was my first time ever seeing the musical and I am fairly recent to the music.I think this is one of the best stagings I have seen at the Menier and it felt quite immersive. I was sitting at one of the cabaret tables so had the cast wandering past me during the show.
Its a simple story and not very challenging but, you know, sometimes that's all you want. I really don't think every musical has to be challenging or thought provoking. Sometimes just need a bit of entertainment and "fluff" when you can just enjoy it for what it is. There are plenty of musicals out there if you want something deep and meaningful. Silly story but lovely songs is all I wanted on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
An amazing cast, many of whom would normally have lead roles in west end musicals. Don't think I have seen such talent on such a small stage. Yes they were underused but nothing you can do about that. Finty Williams was off yesterday but otherwise everyone was there. I really enjoyed Josefina and David Seadon-Young and I don't think I have ever seen both Seadon-Young's on the same stage.
Meadowlark was sung beautifully by Lucy Jones and Clive Rowe excellent as always.
With regard to the seating I would not recommend the cabaret tables unless you sit at the front with a clear view. Its a bit academical now as looks as nearly all the cabaret seats have been sold for the run. I was sat at table M which is on the right as you look at the stage. It is sold as a premium seat but the pillar to the left makes it a restricted view table. There was no mention on the website when booking it. Also when we arrived the seats were not proper seats but tall stalls, again not mentioned on the website. Due to disability there is no way I could sit on one of these so went and spoke to FOH staff. I didn't even need to say what the issue was as she asked me if I wanted normal seats. So it sounds as if this is a normal request. The seats were changed but boy were they small and uncomfortable. We could not see anything that was happening on the left hand side of the stage and, at one point, 2 of the cast were leaning against the pillar making it even harder to see. Also as there were 2 tables in front of us it meant moving my head from side to side to see (which I half expected knowing the table was on the stage). If I went again I would go for middle bench seating.
The restaurant area still has no life or atmosphere. I did notice that they have added some church pew benches and a sofa which wasn't there last time I went and a few potted plants but it was still lifeless.
Overall i think they have done a really good job and pleased that I got to see it. 4 stars from me. 5 star production and a star deducted for the seating.

[ladidah]

It's a shame because it feels so immersive and special, but a lot of views aren't great. I was jammed next to my seat neighbour.

[coco]

Aug 5, 2024 8:56:55 GMT alece10 said:

I went to see this at yesterdays matinee and really enjoyed it. It was my first time ever seeing the musical and I am fairly recent to the music.I think this is one of the best stagings I have seen at the Menier and it felt quite immersive. I was sitting at one of the cabaret tables so had the cast wandering past me during the show.
Its a simple story and not very challenging but, you know, sometimes that's all you want. I really don't think every musical has to be challenging or thought provoking. Sometimes just need a bit of entertainment and "fluff" when you can just enjoy it for what it is. There are plenty of musicals out there if you want something deep and meaningful. Silly story but lovely songs is all I wanted on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
An amazing cast, many of whom would normally have lead roles in west end musicals. Don't think I have seen such talent on such a small stage. Yes they were underused but nothing you can do about that. Finty Williams was off yesterday but otherwise everyone was there. I really enjoyed Josefina and David Seadon-Young and I don't think I have ever seen both Seadon-Young's on the same stage.
Meadowlark was sung beautifully by Lucy Jones and Clive Rowe excellent as always.
With regard to the seating I would not recommend the cabaret tables unless you sit at the front with a clear view. Its a bit academical now as looks as nearly all the cabaret seats have been sold for the run. I was sat at table M which is on the right as you look at the stage. It is sold as a premium seat but the pillar to the left makes it a restricted view table. There was no mention on the website when booking it. Also when we arrived the seats were not proper seats but tall stalls, again not mentioned on the website. Due to disability there is no way I could sit on one of these so went and spoke to FOH staff. I didn't even need to say what the issue was as she asked me if I wanted normal seats. So it sounds as if this is a normal request. The seats were changed but boy were they small and uncomfortable. We could not see anything that was happening on the left hand side of the stage and, at one point, 2 of the cast were leaning against the pillar making it even harder to see. Also as there were 2 tables in front of us it meant moving my head from side to side to see (which I half expected knowing the table was on the stage). If I went again I would go for middle bench seating.
The restaurant area still has no life or atmosphere. I did notice that they have added some church pew benches and a sofa which wasn't there last time I went and a few potted plants but it was still lifeless.
Overall i think they have done a really good job and pleased that I got to see it. 4 stars from me. 5 star production and a star deducted for the seating.

I went to the same performance yesterday, and I totally agree with your comments. The staging is just wonderful and works in each number. I bought the Rush ticket and the view was alright. The only thing with Menier is that the seats are always jammed, feeling like we are sardines in a can. But at least it's better than in the winter. 

[Someone in a tree]

Does the current set design allow for more seats? Its the impression i got

[alece10]

Coco, that's why I went for the cabaret table as its always very snug on the benches and thought it would give me a bit of room.

It's hard to say if there were more seats for this production but I also think it did appear that there were more than normal with this set up.

[alece10]

Thats interesting to read, just shows how deceiving it can look.
In that case it's not the biggest number of seats. Don't ask me which show as my memory is bad but there was one show several years ago that has 210 seats.

[openingup]

I booked this because I’m a Lucie fan, to be honest from what I’d seen, I didn’t think I’d like it at all. I visited on Sunday for the matinee on one of the cabaret tables and absolutely LOVED it. It went so quick, the music is fun and just overall a really charming piece. It was also my first time at the Menier and what a charming little venue? I mean, thank God I wore shorts, but charming all the same…

[westendwhistledown]

Aug 3, 2024 21:31:40 GMT theatrelover123 said:

Transferring to @sohoplace I hear?

This is absolutely rumour. No truth in it

[beanbag85]

Decent seats at £25.00 on today's tix last night for most performances till the end of the run

[theatrelover123]

Aug 6, 2024 22:55:06 GMT westendwhistledown said:

Aug 3, 2024 21:31:40 GMT theatrelover123 said:

Transferring to @sohoplace I hear?

This is absolutely rumour. No truth in it

Many rumours have truth in them sooooo…..

[Rory]

Aug 8, 2024 21:21:22 GMT theatrelover123 said:

Aug 6, 2024 22:55:06 GMT westendwhistledown said:

This is absolutely rumour. No truth in it

Many rumours have truth in them sooooo…..

I'd be amazed if this transfers. It doesn't appear to be selling that well at the Menier.

[danb]

It wouldn’t be the brightest business decision to transfer this would it?

[Being Alive]

It's not selling well at the Menier - people are going but not for very much money...

[ladidah]

I loved it, but it's not a musical for everyone and in a unique venue.

[sandeep]

It's also August. Industry-wide the worst time for theatre. So for a dead month, it's actually not as bad as expected for summer sales.

[Jon]

I do think the pandemic just took the wind out of the Menier and it's not been able to recapture its glory years. They still produce good work but I wonder if having the same person in charge for 20 years means things start to become samey.

[openingup]

This was the first time I’d been to this venue. The show was great but I thought the venue on the whole, although it should have been ‘charming’, was a bit soulless - has it always been like that?

[ladidah]

When I went there were literally ripping floorboards out, and drilling in another room.

[Talisman]

Aug 10, 2024 18:00:23 GMT openingup said:

This was the first time I’d been to this venue. The show was great but I thought the venue on the whole, although it should have been ‘charming’, was a bit soulless - has it always been like that?

Every time I've been it has been on much reduced priced seats.  It used to sell really well.  Like the Charing Cross theatre, their scheduling is sometimes brave but not always appealing enough to get full houses. Way back it was usually hard to get tickets. 

[Mark]

This was disappointing. A competent cast with no real standouts. A bunch of characters we learn very little about. A show with limited tension and conflict. The score is... fine? Yeah... fine.

[usbuzzer]

Any chance it extends or gets transferred for this autumn?