He's Having Her Baby
"bright, inventive and well staged satire" - Robert Boyd, KWMU "a delightful concept" - Joe Pollack, St. Louis Post-Dispatch He's Having Her Baby is a gender-reversed, pro-choice musical comedy about Joey, a 15-year old boy from a broken home who becomes pregnant his first time out with Liz, the captain of the field hockey team. Through ignorance and circumstances other than choice, a baby boy is born. The play then deals with the aftermath of young, single, impoverished parenthood as Joey tries to contend with child care, social isolation, and sexual harassment on the job. When he finally meets a possible mate, and accidentally becomes pregnant again, he makes a different decision this time. Through gender reversal and musical comedy, the show creates an entire universe and demonstrates the importance of reproductive freedom.
The play calls for three men, three women and a piano accompanist. It may be performed on either an imaginative unit set, or in a black box setting with colorful, oversized props. The action is continuous and should be performed at a breakneck speed in broad comedy style as all the actors except the main character play a variety of roles. Some additional characters are: Nathan, Joey's gawky and precociously political best friend who becomes a radical gay masculinist. Ms. Withers, Joey's dysfunctional, highly emotional guidance counselor. Joey's Mother, a prisoner who sings Country Western style about her fall due to liquor and boys. Brian Houlihan, Joey's smart-alecky fellow office worker. Mrs. Abernathy, Joey's crude, lecherous boss at Abernathy and Daughters Construction Company. What the critics have said ... "It's fantastic! This show deals with the complexity surrounding the issue of choice with lightness and humor." - Marlene Hammerman, President, St. Louis Freedom of Choice Council "This show provides a creative, humorous, yet poignant approach to the very sensitive topics of sex and reproduction...I laugh each time I see it. Yet I can't help crying at the awful underlying truth -- that without choices, women are powerless." - Judith Widdicombe, President, Health Policy Institute "He's Having Her Baby is one of the best things I've seen in years! And it's a fun and interesting way to discuss the issue of choice." - Laura Cohen, Director, Missouri National Abortion Rights Action League "Outstanding! This show underscores how important it is for women to have choices. Joey's predicament is so real..." - Joyce Armstrong, Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri
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