The Other Palace – until 14th July 2024
Reviewed by Fiona Leyman
5*****
If you’re anything like me, you’ll recall that traumatic experience in Year 11 when you were given a simulated plastic doll and told to care for it as if it were your own for the next seven days. The shocking revelation that the education system was using these plastic demons to prevent teen pregnancy (it certainly worked in my opinion!). 20+ years later, a brand-new musical debut on London’s West End, threatens to bring these previously suppressed memories to the surface. Could it have been as bad an experience as I remembered?
After seeing Babies – A New-Born Musical Concert Series at the Lyric Theatre last year, I knew this show would be a success. With its first public performance, this new musical had everything I’d ever wanted in a musical. Songs that will be stuck in your head for days, experiences that felt very similar to those I had at school, as well as a truly hilarious show. When it was announced 8 months later that a full production would be brought to audiences, I was very excited to see how this raw production had evolved into a highly polished West End show.
Babies – A New-Born Musical tells the story of nine Year 11 students who are assigned to care for a plastic doll that is crying and pooping for the next week. Each student imagined how they would handle this situation, with some thinking they would be fantastic and others thinking it was a complete waste of time. Babies manages to bring together the entire school demographic, including popular kids, geeks, and those who simply want to fit in. Each with their own set of struggles and stories, we are taken on a journey through this difficult period in their high school lives. However, this new musical is about more than just these demonic dolls, it also tells a powerful and heart-breaking story about one child’s inner struggles.
Jack Godfrey and Martha Geelan have written a musical that is hilarious, infectious, heart-breaking/warming, and appropriate for all ages. Godfrey’s musical writing abilities are extraordinary, and he consistently produces hit songs. Baby Baby Baby and Hot Dad are earworms that will stick with you for days. They’ve been in my head since I saw this in November! Geelan’s ability to write such humorous content and combine it with a truly heartfelt topic is admirable. This duo’s combination of fantastic show songs and a well-developed story is what makes new musicals so enjoyable to watch.
A musical like this cannot succeed without a talented cast to play the characters. Each member of this relatively small cast is given their own moment in the spotlight, allowing them to shine and demonstrate their immense talents. Lauren Conroy returns from the Concert Series as the hardworking, overly stressed Jasmine. Conroy is an absolute star in my opinion, with such a powerful voice. Her voice outshines everyone around her, and she handles this role with ease.
Lucy Carter, who plays Lulu, is another returning concert series star. Carter is by far my favourite performer in both the Concert and this new production, with comedic timing, facial expressions, and mannerisms that rival some of the greats. Her portrayal of Lulu is so brilliant that she never breaks character and is one of the most endearing and hilarious characters in the show. I wouldn’t be surprised if Carter and Conroy become major West End stars in the future. Each star on this stage has so much to offer that I could go on for days about how talented they all are.
It’s good to know that my experiences with these demon dolls (mine was named Damian!) were not unique. Others resented these as much as I did! Babies – A New-Born Musical is not to be missed. You will cry with laughter, have your heart broken, and have incredible musical hit songs in your head for days, weeks, or months, making you want to return again and again.