Post-War France. An American woman whose husband works long hours in Paris longs for a hobby. She finally decides on cooking, and she sets out to master the art of French cooking.

The life of Julia Child is one that has been chronicled in many media. From books to movies, this charismatic woman has become a household name, and now, The Grand Theatre presents Julia Child in a fun new way: live theatre.

To Master the Art tells the story of Julia's time spent in Paris, starting with her very humble beginnings. Upon arrival in Paris with her husband Paul, former intelligence worker Julia proves to be a worse than terrible cook. After sampling the best food that Paris has to offer, and finding herself bored and with time on her hands, Julia decides to enroll in the prestigious Cordon Bleu culinary school. There she hones her skills as a cook and quickly begins work on a French cookbook for American women. After more than a decade of work, Julia's book is finished and America is taught how to master the art of French cooking.

The character of Julia is one that is always entertaining to watch, and in To Master the Art she is brought to the stage by Sarah Machin Gale in her debut at The Grand Theatre. Gale does a truly outstanding job of giving Julia all the complexities and personal quirks that make the infamous woman instantly recognizable. Julia left big shoes to fill for those who want to bring her back to life, and Gale does not fail to impress.

Julia's husband Paul is portrayed by Geoffrey Whynot, who has appeared at The Grand previously in Misery. Whynot gives the character of Paul a true air of love for his wife, undying support — even when he is forced to eat varieties of onion soup for weeks on end — and the burden that comes with helping to rebuild a war-torn country.

Jane Miller in her debut at The Grand takes on the role of Jane Foster, a fellow intelligence worker who worked with Paul and Julia in the Pacific. Miller is entertaining, but sometimes falls a little flat.

Julia's teacher, the revered Chef Max Bugnard, is played by Thomas Hauff, who brings enormous talent to the somewhat minor role. Appearing only briefly throughout the play, Hauff is both fun and funny on stage. The main cast is rounded out by Leanna Brodie, who plays the role of Julia's fellow cookbook author Simca, who gives an entertaining performance.

Everything from the stage dressings to the actors' accents to the music evokes an atmosphere of the romance of Paris. The story is so enthralling that the audience is drawn into every aspect of it through the ups and the downs.

To Master the Art is a show that is not to be missed, and plays at The Grand Theatre through November 5. For tickets, visit grandtheatre.com.