Be My Baby
March 2023
Written by Amanda Whittington
Directed by Georgie Sayers
Cast List
Mary Adams
Alice Tilley
Mrs Adams
Jill Balderston
Matron
Jan Wyatt
Queenie
Faye Wyatt
Dolores
Mia Heathcliffe
Norma
Amy Metcalfe
Stage Manager
Geoff Bolden
Set Construction
Geoff Bolden, Carol Bolden, Ian West, Hugh Bailey, Steve Berry,
Brian Redding, Neil Balderston, Gerry Flanagan, Janine Hewlett, and Georgie Sayers
Prompt
Louise Giddings
Props
Carol Bolden
Lighting & Sound
Janine Hewlett
Costumes
Sourced via the Oasthouse Wardrobe and cast members
NODA Review
Friday 10th March 2023
'Be My Baby' gives us the story of four young girls who find themselves 'in trouble' at a time when babies not born in wedlock were disastrous to a young lady's life than anything other, and catastrophic for their reputation. The play is set in a mother and baby hospital in the 1960s, where the girls work while pregnant and earn their keep having no choice but to have their newly born babies given away and taken and adopted by parents who could provide all of what they could not. The play focusing on four very different girls, a poignant script, some very witty lines and classic 1960s tunes, (I remember them vividly) Georgie Sayers did a great job with 'Be My Baby'. One thing that cannot be denied is the talent of the young cast of actresses, Alice Tilley as Mary, Amy Metcalfe, as Norma, Faye Wyatt as Queenie, and Mia Heathercote as Dolores were all well cast as the super-sweet girls led into their different situations of getting pregnant. Their sobering confessions to the matron (Jan Wyatt) as when 'her time' arrived were quite heart-breaking. All these actresses gave very impressive performances. Jill Balderston was an excellent tormented middle-class mother, The real star of this show, for me, was Mia Heathcote playing Dolores. This character is the centre for much of the comedy in this 'Be my Baby' from her adorable naivety to her infinite good nature and enthusiasm, despite her circumstances, Mia's facial nuances were so perfect. Jan Wyatt as the bossy boots Matron, had to cover all areas of acting ability and she did this with ease.
A split set worked well and, as always, props were in period, and the costumes were in period. Just one thought, I thought Matron would have been dressed in a uniform as it would have been in a hospital in the 60s, only my opinion.
'Be My Baby' was a well-directed piece of theatre that RaTS should be proud of, thank you for inviting my guest and me.
Gordon Harris,
NODA rep. District 5
'Be My Baby' gives us the story of four young girls who find themselves 'in trouble' at a time when babies not born in wedlock were disastrous to a young lady's life than anything other, and catastrophic for their reputation. The play is set in a mother and baby hospital in the 1960s, where the girls work while pregnant and earn their keep having no choice but to have their newly born babies given away and taken and adopted by parents who could provide all of what they could not. The play focusing on four very different girls, a poignant script, some very witty lines and classic 1960s tunes, (I remember them vividly) Georgie Sayers did a great job with 'Be My Baby'. One thing that cannot be denied is the talent of the young cast of actresses, Alice Tilley as Mary, Amy Metcalfe, as Norma, Faye Wyatt as Queenie, and Mia Heathercote as Dolores were all well cast as the super-sweet girls led into their different situations of getting pregnant. Their sobering confessions to the matron (Jan Wyatt) as when 'her time' arrived were quite heart-breaking. All these actresses gave very impressive performances. Jill Balderston was an excellent tormented middle-class mother, The real star of this show, for me, was Mia Heathcote playing Dolores. This character is the centre for much of the comedy in this 'Be my Baby' from her adorable naivety to her infinite good nature and enthusiasm, despite her circumstances, Mia's facial nuances were so perfect. Jan Wyatt as the bossy boots Matron, had to cover all areas of acting ability and she did this with ease.
A split set worked well and, as always, props were in period, and the costumes were in period. Just one thought, I thought Matron would have been dressed in a uniform as it would have been in a hospital in the 60s, only my opinion.
'Be My Baby' was a well-directed piece of theatre that RaTS should be proud of, thank you for inviting my guest and me.
Gordon Harris,
NODA rep. District 5
It's 1964 but the sixties aren't swinging for Mary Adams: 19 years old, unmarried and pregnant. She is forcibly sent, in secrecy and shame by a mother intent on keeping up appearances, to St. Saviours, a Church of England mother-and-baby home run by a formidable Matron. Mary is set to work in the laundry and shares a room with the tough-talking Queenie. The girls in the home bond over a love of girl-group records, which entertain, console and inspire as the birth of their babies approaches. When Mary finds she is expected to give up her child for adoption, she begins a desperate fight.
