**** Recommended Canterbury Summer Theatre’s second production of the season, Baby, is a charming story. Three couples, a college town and pregnancy - plenty of material there. The story is funny, upbeat, poignant and personal. Baby resonates with audiences. 3 ½ Spotlights
Students, Danny (Jakob Innes) and Lizzie (Emilie Richardson), who just decided to live together, find out they’re pregnant. Alan (Christopher Conte), a professor, and his wife Arlene (Gracy Kelly Kretzmer), are empty-nesters who get a big surprise. Pam (Kacey Marovich) desperately wants to get pregnant, and her partner, Nicki (Devon Baxa), is willing to do almost anything to support her. The story follows the three couples as they try to figure out the future.
(L-R) Emilie Richardson, Kacey Marovich and Grace Kelly Kretzmer
Both Danny and Lizzie face challenges – he’s doesn’t hear well, her vision is limited – but they love each other. When Danny finds out Lizzie is pregnant, he jumps to marriage. She wants no part of a patriarchial construct. He’s worried about money, she’s worried about her mother’s reaction. When Danny gets an opportunity to tour with a band for three months, he decides to take the gig because it’s more money than he’d be able to earn in any other job.
Alan and Arlene have raised four children, so they really don’t want to start over again. At one point, they decide they don’t want the baby. They agree to sell the big house they no longer need and move into an apartment or condo. As Alan is meeting with the realtor, Arlene marches in, announces her pregnancy and cancels the sale. Along the way, they decide they both know how to be parents but they’re not so good at marriage.
When easier options fail, Pam and Nicki decide to try in vitro, but after several painful tries, Pam decides she just can’t do it any longer.
The score is light and funny with songs like What Could Be Better? and Baby, Baby, Baby. Women will recognize the sentiment as Lizzie, Arlene and Pam sing I Want It All. The men in the audience will love Fatherhood Blues.
The ensemble, Jacob Meza and Shayson Lenee’ Hodges, play doctors, nurses, gym trainers, realtors and so on.
The set, designed by Shayson Lenee’ Hodges, is simple but effective, three groupings of oversized children’s blocks
Baby was written by Sybille Pearson, based on a story developed with Susan Yankowitz. David Shire wrote the music, Richard Maltby, Jr. wrote the lyrics. Baby premiered on Broadway in 1983. The script has been revised a couple of times, in 2004 and 2010. In a 2019 off-Broadway production, Pam and Nick became lesbian couple, Pam and Nicki. The Canterbury production, directed by RJ Magee, uses that script.
Baby runs through July 19th at Canterbury Summer Theatre, 807 Franklin Street, Michigan City. Street parking is available and free. Running time is approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes, with an intermission.
Performances: Wednesdays & Thursdays at 2:00 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $22, $20 for seniors, $11 for students and military. FYI (219) 874-4269 or e-mail info@canterburytheatre.org