Theater Thursday - Wide-Awake Jake and The Baker's Wife

We were given complimentary tickets to Wide-Awake Jake and The Baker's Wife for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Wide-Awake Jake

Where: TADA! Youth Theater 

             15 W. 28th St.

             New York, NY

Who: Suitable for all ages but probably most appealing to ages 4 to 7

When: Through March 19, 2022

The talented youngsters of TADA!'s  Resident Youth Ensemble Theater are back with their first live performance since before the pandemic. Their current show, Wide-Awake Jake is all about a boy who just can't sleep. Actor, comedian, and filmmaker, Jordan Peele, actually appeared in a previous incarnation of the show when he was a part of TADA! Youth Theater as a kid. This show is not as likely to appeal to older children and adults as some of the group's other shows. It gets lost in its own silliness when Jake ends up in another land in his sleep. However, that only makes it even more appealing to the small children for whom is it primarily meant. It is a show full of crazy characters, colorful costumes, and upbeat songs that children will love.  Besides, it's nice to see kids out and having fun together in public again both those in the audience and those on stage.

For more about Wide-Awake Jake or to purchase tickets, visit tadatheater.com/current-season.

*********************************************************************

What: The Baker's Wife

Where: Theater Row 

             410 W. 42nd St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through March 20, 2022

The final production of J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company's second season (and first complete season) is one of Stephen Schwartz' lesser known shows, The Baker's Wife. Although the show has gained some popularity in more recent years, it is still not as renowned as his other shows including Pippin, Godspell, and of course, Wicked. The show has some pretty songs including the song Meadowlark which has become somewhat of a standard and is probably more well-know than the show itself. 

The show itself is kind of a downer. It is about a town that has been without a baker for some time. Then, a  new baker arrives in town with his beautiful much younger wife. When she leaves him for a young rogue, he is heartbroken and stops baking. The townspeople conspire to reunite the two, but not because they really care because they want their bread.  It's hard to care about anyone in this show because they all act so selfishly. They do finally seem to gain a little compassion for each other in the end at least though.

The main draw of the show is the beautiful songs. It is worth it to see the show for them, and there are some beautiful voices singing some of those songs in this particular production of the show. Although not all the songs are memorable, some definitely are and will probably get stuck in your head particularly the lovely opening song, Chanson, and not just because it is repeated several times in the show. The acting in this production is generally good too. Over all, although this show is never going to overtake Schawartz's other shows in popularity, this is a production that is still worth seeing. 

For more about The Baker's Wife or to purchase tickets, visit www.j2spotlightnyc.com/the-bakers-wife

And that's our view. Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits: All Wide-Awake Jake production photos supplied by TADA! Youth Theater

                       All The Baker's Wife production photos by Russ Rowland