“Baby: the Musical”

The musical version, with a book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby is very seldom produced. I believe the last time I saw it in our area was about 14 years ago at The Theatre Building on Belmont, and I also recall that Marriott Theatre did a version as well. Citadel, with its intimate stage may be a better venue for this small play that is filled with songs that you might be familiar with in spite of not knowing the show itself. The familiar songs that have been recorded by others and used in Cabaret performances are “I Want It All”, “Fatherhood Blues”, “The Story Goes On” and “Two People In Love”. There are some other terrific numbers that are there to propel the story.

I am pretty sure you can tell what the story is about by the title, but it is far more than just the three couples who find out they are having a baby. It is more about the relationships of these couples and what their drives and desires are. The couples are unique and quite different. There is the older couple, Alan (  Joe Lehman) and Arlene (Julie Bayer). They have three grown daughters and were thinking about downsizing from a big house to a small condo when they find out they are with child. Alan is excited, Arlene, not so much.

Couple number two is Pam (deftly handled by Katie Engler) and her hubby Nick ( Mark Yacullo handles the role perfectly) who learn early on that they have some technical problems, and during the rest of the play, work on solving them. The third couple is made up of an unmarried duo of Danny ( Ben Ballmer) who wants to be in the music biz and Lizzie ( played to perfection by Madison Jaffe-Richter). While they have the rockiest of relationships, theirs is the one that proves that love can triumph over everything. Remember this name as I see Jaffe-Richter as a talent that will be gracing many of our stages over the next few seasons. Her rendition of” The Story Goes On” is powerful and I enjoyed her “The Ladies Singing their Song” with ensemble members Lisa Pogofsky Sobelman and Becca Duff. The other ensemble members are Evan B. Smith and Aaron Rumack.

Directed and choreographed by Scott Shallenbarger, on a set designed by  Bob Silton, this clever staging allows us to move from scene (musical number) to scene ( musical number) swiftly containing this to a 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermission. The musicians under the direction of Roger L. Bingamon bring us the sound but never drowns out the  lyrics that are all important to the telling of the story.

This was a week of large musicals in our larger venues. “Guys and Dolls” and “The Music Man” are oldies but goodies, and yet, “Baby” the Musical had a deep hold on me. I recall seeing it in years gone by and thinking back about what it truly means as far as true love, relationships and birth ( as well as re-birth). I truly think you owe it to yourselves to take the trip out to Lake Forest, maybe via Vernon Hills where you can enjoy a great dinner at Perry’s Steakhouse at the Hawthorn Mall and have a night to remember!