"The Baker's Wife" opens Sept. 24 at Coastal Carolina
Here's the story: A rural French village has been without a baker for months, and the residents are getting cranky. When Aimable, the baker, and his new, young wife Genevieve move into town, everything is delicious again. But she is discontented, and her eyes soon fall on the handsome Dominique. The young lovers run away, and the baker is so crestfallen that he and his bread both crumble. What happens next is why you need to attend this delightful comedy performed by Coastal's Department of Performing Arts..
Diane Fabiano, a junior in musical theater, is the baker's wife, and David Bankston, associate professor of performing arts, plays the baker. Returning student Chris Bergamo plays the part of the young handyman, and Emily Bryant, a transfer student, is the narrator. Senior Tiffany Scribner is the set designer. There are 18 performers in the cast..
The play will be set in an intimate, theater-in-the-round style seating, according to director Greg London, assistant professor of performing arts. Music will be performed by a small orchestra including a harp, keyboard and string bass, with Anne Miles as the music director. Music and lyrics were written by Stephen Schwartz, who also wrote the musicals "Godspell," "Hunchback" and "Pippin," among others. .
Based on the 1938 French film, "Le Femme de Boulanger," by Marcel Pagnol and Jean Giono, this play was created in 1976 but closed before reaching Broadway. When a cast album was recorded, it helped the show attain a cult following in theater circles.
In 1988, a revival of the show was performed in London's West End, and there's been a workshop production at the Roundabout Theatre in New York..
The Coastal performance, London said, will be a regional premiere of the play. .
Performances will run at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 through Sept. 27, and matinees will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. General admission is $10. For more information call the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.