★★★★✰
The Great British Bakeoff has been one of the great cultural phenomena of the last thirteen years—but you don’t need me to tell you that, and you don’t need to tell the producers of The Great British Bakeoff Musical that, either. Capitalising on the innuendo and feel-good stories that made the show a hit, the musical lovingly recreates and takes the mick of its source material in an uneven but always entertaining and well-sung production.
The show follows the contestants of a new series of Bake Off, alongside hosts Jim and Kim, and judges Pam Lee and Phil Hollinghurst, as they move through the technical challenges and showstoppers. The show shines when it plays either entirely into satire—#BinGate makes a welcome appearance—or the sweet stories of why contestants such as Syrian immigrant Hassan (Aharon Rayner) or quietly unhappy Francesca (Cat Sandison) began baking. These two components allow the massively talented cast to shine either with their comedic skill or huge voices, but are rarely brought together. It’s a show of two contrasting and sometimes competing halves, but each half works well in its own right, meaning that you can forgive the sudden shift from Phil and Pam boxing in giant cake costumes to a heartfelt discussion of the inability to conceive.
The love story between Gemma (Charlotte Wakefield) and Ben (Damien Humbley) takes up much of the show and adds a sweet powdery topping to proceedings, pushing the show into yet another genre, but also takes away from the stars of the show: Phil and Pam, who get the biggest laughs but are woefully underused. When you have a voice as big as John Owen-Jones’ in the Hollinghurst role, and a comedic powerhouse in Haydn Gwynne’s Lee, why not give them more to do? That being said, when they are allowed to let rip, as in the standout songs ‘Slap It Like That’ or reminiscent-of-Hairspray duet ‘I’d Never Be Me Without You’, the show is lifted, as is the score. Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary’s score is at its best when it is playful, as in the use of music from the actual Bake Off (a gorgeous touch), or hits the emotional heights, as in Gemma’s paean to self-discovery ‘Rise’.
In short, then, there are no soggy bottoms here. Whilst the show might’ve needed a little longer in the oven, or a reevaluation of how well its flavours go together, its central ingredients are sound. Take an exceptionally talented cast, a frequently funny script, moments of pathos and satire, and an overwhelming love letter to a British institution (even if its not as accurate as the show would love you to think), and you have all the makings of a West End showstopper. And if that’s not enough cake puns for you, I’d fully suggest you see the show.
Words by Issy Flower
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