The Bent’s latest production, Bekah Brunstetter’s “The Cake,” is based on a real-life case that went all the way to the Supreme Court back in 2012.
In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Lakewood, Colo., shop’s owner, Jack Phillips, refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, David Mullins and Charlie Craig. Phillips cited his religious beliefs as the reason. The state’s Civil Rights Commission ruled in the couple’s favor, alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation. But in a 7-2 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Phillips’ favor, claiming the commission had shown hostility to people with strong religious beliefs.
In The Cake, the protagonist is Della (Sonia Reavis), owner of Della’s Sweets bakery in Winston-Salem, N.C. A highly skilled baker with years of experience, Della has some very definite ideas on how to create the perfect cake. “Always follow the directions,” she warns. The goal is to come up with a cake “you can take a nap in.”
As the play opens, Della is bubbling with excitement, because she’s going to be a contestant on The Great American Baking Show. Della’s day gets even better when Jen (Sarah Elizabeth Woolsey), the daughter of her late best friend, arrives from New York to announce that she’s getting married. Childless herself, Della has always viewed Jen as the daughter she never had, and she’s touched when Jen asks her to make the wedding cake. Her delight quickly fades, however, when she learns that Jen is marrying a woman, Macy (Jessica Collins). A devout Christian with a penchant for quoting Bible verses, Della firmly believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. She struggles between her moral code and her love for Jen.
Complicating Della’s life is the relationship she has with her husband, Tim (Paul Crane), a plumber; their lengthy marriage has lost its spark. Seeing the intense love Jen and Macy have for each other has only highlighted what Della is missing.
Will Della and Tim rediscover the passion in their marriage? Does Della prevail on The Great American Baking Show? Will she ultimately decide to create the perfect wedding cake for Jen and Macy? You’ve got to see the play to find out.
This is a well-paced production with strong acting. Kudos to director Kudra Wagner for casting well, and for eliciting effective performance from the actors.
The actress playing Della carries most of the weight of this show. Luckily, local favorite Sonia Reavis is more than up to the task; she’s perfectly cast as the sweet, Southern belle who takes both her baking and her faith seriously. Her North Carolina accent is spot-on, and her comic timing is superb. She tosses off some of the best lines with great aplomb: “I tried a gluten-free cake once. It tasted like the back of my throat after a good cry.” Reavis is terrific.
Sarah Elizabeth Woolsey does an excellent job as Jen. She’s dealing with many conflicting feelings—her love for Macy (who has no intention of budging on her strong liberal opinions); her deep familial affection for Della; her fears about disappointing her family, including her deceased mother; and her desire to have the wedding of her dreams.
Jessica Collins brings just the right energy to the character of Macy. As a liberal New Yorker, a lesbian and an African American, Macy has her work cut out for her as she navigates the biases of Jen’s extended family. Collins has a quiet yet commanding presence onstage; we get the sense that Macy she knows who she is, and she’s not about to be pushed around—yet she also yearns to be accepted, as we all do. There’s a touch of humor underneath it all.
In the supporting role of Della’s husband, Tim, Paul Crane is just right. He’s your average Joe from the South—hardworking and a bit set in his ways. He enjoys the status quo and is not really interested in changing anything, yet he loves his wife and wants to see her happy. Crane particularly shines in the two scenes when the couple is attempting to revive their sex life. Let’s just say they both involve food and leave it at that.
A special nod goes to Jeremi Kalkowski, who provides the offstage voice of George, the announcer for The Great American Baking Show, who also becomes the hilarious voice of Della’s inner critic at times.
Jason Reale deserves special mention for the colorful, dollhouse-like set. The lights, sound and costumes all work well here.
The only slight flaw in the production I saw: At several moments, the actors needed more vocal projection, particularly in the play’s low-key, reflective moments.
The play’s approach to themes of love, faith, family and homosexuality seems pleasant and quaint compared to today’s environment, when differences often involve vitriol, hatred and sometimes violence. The Cake provides a touch of sweetness we could all use right now—go see it.
The Bent’s production of The Cake will be performed at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday; and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, through Saturday, April 12, at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs. Tickets are $42, and the running time is 90 minutes, with no intermission. For tickets or more information, visit thebent.org.
