Poignant tale of single mums in testing times
FOR our next SDC production, Be My Baby, we are going back for the third time this season to the swinging sixties.
After the lofty political drama of Letter Of Resignation and the much praised youth production of Blood Brothers, the Little Theatre stage will play host to a very different type of story, peeling back the progressive veneer of that exciting decade and looking at the hidden side of the decade of free love.
The year is 1964 and Mary Adams is a 19-year-old with a job and a bright future, but she is also seven months pregnant and unmarried, so her mother brings her to a Church-run mother and baby home to see out her confinement.
Also resident at the home are streetwise Queenie, dreamer Dolores and naïve Norma.
The girls are under the supervision of the domineering Matron, who may be harbouring a secret past of her own, informing her seemingly stern attitude to the young mothers-to-be in her care.
Amanda Wittington’s poignant play is based on the memories and exper- iences of women who trusted her to tell their stories of going through pregnancy, then having to give up their babies, because that was what the society of the time demanded. The result is an engaging, warm and moving drama that will have you laughing and crying in equal measure as we follow their journeys.
Fittingly for the sensitive subject matter, this is a story told by an allfemale cast.
Alice Burns, Molly Wilkinson, Lisa Tatler, Emily Parr, Holly Minto and Sandie Keane, are led by ever-experienced director Les Gomersall.
Les is supported wonderfully by his able AD, Kate Miles-Roberts, and they are making a great team.
Barry Jon rounds out the team in his prompting debut.
An extra dimension in Be My Baby is the use of music of the era to tell the tale throughout.
As well as beautiful performances from the actors, we will be treated to live renditions of songs that echo the thoughts and feelings of the characters we see on stage. Be My Baby runs from April 6-14. For tickets, productions and show times, ring 01704 530521 / 530460, check out littletheatresouthport.co.uk or follow Facebook /SouthportLittle Theatre.