Stage Review

Two and a half stars

BABY
Theater: Broad Brook Opera House
Production: Book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. Directed and Lighting Design by Paula Cortis. Musical Direction by Tom Slowick. Pit Orchestra, Tom Slowick on piano, John Hagopian on bass, and Dane Scozzari on drums. Stage Manager, Paul Leone. Stage crew, Rebecca Murray. Light Hang by Sharon FitzHenry, Jerry Zalewski. Light Board Programmer and Operator, Diane St. Amand. Sound Design by Devon Gamache. House Managers, Joy Iloff and Michelle Tetrault. Box office, Ginny Zdebski.
Running Time: Three hours with one intermission
Show Times: Friday and Saturday, Sept.21 and 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $17, $15 for over 65 and under 12

Actor...Character
Richard Damaso...Danny Hooper
Amy Szczepaniuk Meek...Lizzy Fields
Paul DiProto ...Nick Sakarian
Christine Voytko ... Pam Sakarian
Marge Stepansky ... Arlene MacNalley
Ed Reed III...Alan MacNalley
Reva Kleppel...Nurse, Ensemble
Pam Dexter, Khara Hoyer, Barbara LaValley, Michael May, James Rhone, Julie Thorin ...Ensemble and various characters

“Baby” has to win the award for one of the most unusual concepts for a musical — no pun intended.
First produced on Broadway in 1983 and nominated for seven Tony Awards, the story revolves around three couples, one in their 20’s, another in their 30’s, and a third in their 40’s, who all have dramatically different feelings about children.
The young college couple is caught unprepared for the news of a baby on the way, as are the older couple who thought their child rearing days were a thing of the past, while the couple in their 30’s who passionately want children are experiencing difficulties conceiving, the reasons for which they learn under amusing circumstances is a “common problem.”
There is some choreography, but the show’s strength is in it songs, of which there are over 30. The theme song “Baby, Baby, Baby,” is a catchy and memorable tune interwoven throughout the show.
It is remarkable that so many talented local people willing to devote their time committing to memory a three hour musical — particularly considering, according to the program notes, the entire production was put together in just four weeks.
This is truly a production where the star of the show is the ensemble cast of six. Each performer has their clear strengths, while all performed with convincing affection. Most outstanding vocally were Marge Stepansky, playing Arlene MacNalley, the wife in her 40’s, Richard Damasco, and Christine Voytko, who plays Pam Sakarian, the wife trying without success to become a mom.
Amy Szczepaniuk Meek, who has a striking resemblance to the actor Claire Danes, brings wide-eyed enthusiasm to her role as Lizzie Fields, the college student.
Paul DiProto as Nick Sakarian, the want-to-be dad, plays his humorous and sometimes frustrated character with energy and wit.
Ed Reed III is convincing as Allan MacNalley, a man who admits he has been a better father than a husband to his wife.
The singing could be challenging, especially during the finale when all three couples sing distinctly different parts contemporaneously. It could have easily collapsed into a cacophonous mess, but they admirably plowed through the complex number with aplomb and verve.
Special mention goes to the outstanding orchestra of three, lead by musical director Tom Slowick on piano, John Hagopian on bass, and Dane Scozzari on drums, who performed without a hitch practically non-stop for the entire show.
Kudos too go out to the backstage crew — stage manager Paul Leone and stage crew Rebecca Murray — who, with help from the cast, have to make at least a scene change a song. These unsung heroes dressed in black moved faster and with more precision than a NASCAR pit crew.