Barrington Stage, Pittsfield, MA
through July 15, 2018
by Janice Hanson
 |
| Photo by Carolyn Brown |
In the opening scene of “The Cake,”
Della, portrayed by the versatile Debra Jo Rupp, explains to the
audience that when you make a cake, you have to follow the
instructions, and if you do, everything turns out right—or so she
believes. Within moments, her world view is challenged as Macy
(Nemuna Ceesa), comes into her North Carolina cake shop with her own
Brooklynite view of the world. When Jen (Virginia Vale) arrives,
Della is thrilled to see her old friend’s daughter come back home,
grown up, and ready to marry. What she doesn’t realize, is that Jen
plans to marry Macy. The kicker—they want Della to make the wedding
cake.
If the ethical dilemma of a baker being
asked to make a cake for people for whom she can’t morally support
sounds familiar—it most certainly is. What makes this play funny,
poignant, and ironic, is how well the characters deal with challenges
to their belief systems, and how they negotiate interpersonal
relationships amidst the backdrop of family and contemporary culture.
“The Cake” is not sweet, nor is it saccharine (sorry about the
puns). Rather, it is bold, unapologetic, and very real.
Some scenes are so real they are
uncomfortable to watch, and audiences should be cautioned about
suggestive scenes and partial nudity. But these sections are not
gratuitous—they exist because we need to understand the characters’
desires. Whether we desire passion, comfort, or the awakening of
desire after a long marriage, these scenes contribute to the humanity
that binds the actors’ characters to the audience. Della’s
husband Tim, the subtle, hilarious, Douglas Rees, portrays one of the
most sympathetic male characters on the stage today.
The script is by Bekah Brunstetter, a
supervising producer of NBC’s “This Is Us,” who knows how to
weave a good tale. Director Jennifer Chambers masterfully stages it
with a driving force and theatrical craft.
The beautiful set designed by Tim
Mackabee provides seemless transitions from the cake shop to
different bedrooms, but the action is driven by the talented Debra Jo
Rupp. Her “likability” is only a part of her charm. She exhibits
bravery and total commitment on stage. We’re lucky she’s plying
her craft in the Berkshires.
