Baby with the Bathwater:
Review by Tolucan Times

An Entertaining, Twisted 'Baby with the Bathwater'
By Mary Mallory

A satiric look at family values and childrearing, 3KO Broadway Theatre Company presents a solid production of Christopher Durang's Baby With the Bathwater at Sidewalk Studios. Focusing on a couple practicing the Ozzy Osborne school of parenting, the black comedy presents biting observations on how upbringing affects a child's personality and character development.

Durang employs absurd situations like those involving a neurotic drop-in nanny and a child hiding in dirty laundry to present a cautionary warning about the negative consequences of refusing to grow up and face responsibility.

Young couple John and Helen bring their newborn infant home from the hospital, immediately feeling overwhelmed and unprepared. Deciding to be polite rather than search for evidence of the baby's sex, the couple assumes the baby to be a girl and names her Daisy.
At the age of 17, Daisy realizes she's actually a he and stops wearing dresses. Many years of anger, resentment, and therapy follow.

The play ends on an emotional and positive note, suggesting maturity and respect can overcome unfit parenting.

Fine acting permeates the production. John F. Schaffer convincingly captures the slow unraveling of the immature, easygoing John, a man unprepared for fatherhood or anything else. As the very confused Daisy and later Alexander, Scott Vinci deftly underplays resentment and anger, successfully finding peace in his life.

Susan Berger's Nanny is a maniacal sparkplug of a woman, forceful and strong, with a cackling Cockney accent. Christina Diaz demonstrates tenderness as the confused homeless woman and good slow burn as the pill-popping mom in the park.

Opening night jitters popped up occasionally, but several occurred in heartfelt exchanges reflecting the characters' emotional minefields.
The simple, functional set effectively made use of the small space to accurately reflect the hemmed in feeling of the studio apartment.

A few minor problems could be corrected. The program lacks a synopsis and information about the playwright, which would be useful to patrons unfamiliar with Durang's work. While the audience was enthusiastic, those singing along with the connective songs and carrying on conversations distracted other theatregoers.

Baby With the Bathwater appears at the Sidewalk Studio, 4150 Riverside Dr. in Burbank, two doors down from Priscilla's. Tickets are $15. For more information and reservations, call (818) 846-3403.