REVIEW: Beasty Baby, Liverpool Unity Theatre
‘BEASTY’ may be a bit of a misnomer for the star of the Unity’s Christmas delightful show.
It’s not a new piece of work, having debuted in 2015; and, notably for the venue’s festive residency, neither is it local – bringing London-based Theatre Rites here for the duration. But still, it is a chance for Liverpool audiences to get to see this widely acclaimed production, a great fit for the time of year and a lovely, comforting slice of family entertainment offering something different than the wall-to-wall panto everywhere else. It’s not out-and-out Christmassy, but the final scene of this gorgeous winter’s tale has the power to melt the hardest of hearts.
It’s cold outside, and a trio of performers return home to imagine life with a baby in the house before waking up to find one has appeared, turning life upside down as these things are wont to do. Time passes by in a flurry of naps, tantrums, giggles, and nappy changes; with comedy, rhythm and song for little viewers and an undeniable bittersweet nostalgia for parents. With a Beasty Baby of my own in tow, if anything it was a reminder of how quickly it all passes by, from sleepless nights to the food flying up the walls, and they’ll never be as little as they are now. That’s why Beasty Baby struck me as anything but, capturing beautifully how the highs, no matter how simple, outweigh the lows any day of the week.
There’s a timeless, fairy tale quality to Verity Quinn’s cabin in the woods set and costumes of Nordic knits; composer Jessica Dannheisser’s soundtrack makes for a beautiful accompaniment to a largely dialogue-free piece.
Performers Teele Uustani, Emily Windham and Elliot Liburd (not the cast in the promo shot above) bring Beasty Baby to life and portray the whirlwind of family life that an infant brings with realism and gentle humour that is never cartoony or cliched.
Coming in at just under an hour in length it doesn’t overstay its welcome for the under 8s audience it is aimed at, and it is perfect for younger children. A sweet and simple joy of a show with hygge in abundance.
