Show: There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit
Format: Play
Genre: Comedy Thriller
Cast: Conor Burns, Elliot Burton, Catherine Devine, Natasha Hale, Shawney Ross, Michael Schenck & Charlotte Pedley
Review date: February 26 2020
Performances: February 26-29 2020
Location: Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool
Duration: 70 Minutes
Age Rating: 15+
Falling Doors Theatre is passionate about creating dystopian-themed theatre. They tell stories of unheard voices which fracture our view on reality. And they challenge audience perceptions of the world we live in. This passion is seen clearly throughout this performance of There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit at Liverpool’s Hope Street Theatre.
There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit
Synopsis Of There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit
This gripping piece opens with all six characters giving monologues to the audience. We are then moved to a scene where a group of people welcome their new neighbours, Linda (Shawney Ross) and Brian (Elliot Burton) to their new home, and learn that they live in an idyllic community with several year-long waiting lists for new residents. Almost immediately, the head of the neighbourhood watch, Glenn (Catherine Devine) makes clear how important the neighbourhood rules are. These rules include times to put the rubbish out and where to cross the road! Linda and Brian are initially not too bothered by this and laugh it off, but the audience is made aware that these rules are no joke.
The next day, as the title suggests, Linda and Brian find a dead body in their baby’s sandpit. Deciding it will be too suspicious to tell people about this, they make themselves even more suspicious by hilariously hiding the body. It quickly becomes clear that body parts are popping up all over the seemingly perfect neighbourhood, with each resident too scared to tell the others.
Neighbourhood
At another neighbourhood watch meeting, Glenn informs the new residents that when rules are broken, the neighbourhood is punished with plagues such as rats, slugs and dead bodies. Throughout the play, there are other small monologues from each character, which only come together in the final moments. As the play comes to an end, the audience realises the ‘community’ is really a home for the mentally ill, although the ending is left very open to interpretation and alternate views!
Analysis Of There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit
The casting for this performance was perfect. A small cast, often all on stage at the same time in various costumes can cause many issues backstage between scenes but the transitions here were flawless. Due to the mix of jokes one minute and monologues about mental health the next, the audience were all really laughing at certain times, and serious in others. The play overall struck just the right balance between dramatic, thrilling and comedic. Catherine Devlin as Glenn was an absolute show stopper. Her clear emphasis on certain words in her lines and her facial expressions had the audience in stitches.
Catherine added some much-needed character and humour to the traditional neighbourhood watch leader that we often see in American sitcoms. Elliot Burton as Brian also stood out with his facial expressions and body language, particularly when trying to hide the dead body from their neighbours. There was a particular scene with perfect comedic timing. Brian (Elliot) was trying to distract the neighbours from the dead body by shouting “it’s total shit!” That was in contrast with the scene around him at this point. So, the timing of it was absolutely hilarious.
Tension
The tension building music was almost as good as the actor’s reactions to it. So, this broke the fourth wall and really made the audience laugh. Also, the set was simple yet very effective. Furthermore, anything else takes the focus away from the excellent cast and the numerous body parts throughout it.
Summary Of There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit
The open ending is very clever. So, I would jump at the chance to see a follow-up from this play. And I really hope there is one in the pipeline! So, I urge everyone to get a ticket for the last couple of shows as the value for money is extraordinary! I would have paid double the ticket price for this performance.
Notes
Target Audience: 15+
Content: Moderate Language
Recommendation?: Yes
Overall Rating: 8.5/10 – Excellent
There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit Tickets
So, There’s A Dead Body In My Baby’s Sandpit runs at the Hope Street Theatre until Saturday February 29 2020. To buy tickets, click here or call 0344 561 0622.
