EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2009: REVIEW - BABY THE MUSICAL, Musical Theatre @ George Square, August 13 2009

Maltby and Shire's musical about three couples facing the prospect of parenthood is long overdue a revival. In the George Square studio space, with white screens and white boxes, this minimalist production is as moving and as funny at times as ever.

The Cambridge University Players do a good job of reminding us of the strength of the score, but like so many other shows on the fringe, constraints of time and space mean that cruel edits are needed. I would have loved to have heard Miri Gillert's take on Patterns - her vocals are clear and strong and she deserved a chance in the limelight.

The six-strong cast are a tight unit, with varying degrees of acting and singing ability, as one would expect from an amateur production, but all with fantastic comic timing. With a bit of training, Georgina Hunt's (Lizzy) vocals could be exceptional; here she veered between a magnificent belt and a rather thin head voice. It seemed as if she was saving herself for The Story Goes On, which is understandable but also a shame.

An enjoyable edited highlights show, but with a little more space and time it would be fascinating to see what this talented young group could make of it.

 

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