Next Door's Baby
| Next Door's Baby | |
|---|---|
| Cast Recording | |
Judd Music Ltd
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| Music | Matthew Strachan |
| Lyrics | Matthew Strachan |
| Book | Bernie Gaughan |
| Productions | 2008 Orange Tree Theatre |
Next Door's Baby is a musical with music and lyrics by Matthew Strachan and book by Bernie Gaughan (whose novels are published under the name Bernadette Strachan), based on Gaughan's radio play of the same name. Set in 1950's Dublin, it tells the story of two neighbouring families who attempt to reconcile their lives with secrets they have kept to avoid facing public shame. The two daughters of the families strike up an unlikely friendship which leads them to contemplate running away and leaving their families behind.
The musical's first production was at the Orange Tree Theatre, London in 2008 starring Louise Gold, Riona O'Connor and Stephen Carlile.
The show was written for the theatre by the husband and wife team of Strachan and Gaughan, Strachan having had close links with the theatre, composing music for several plays and acted as musical director for productions of Kander and Ebb's Flora the Red Menace and The Rink.
The cast recording is based on the workshop performance of the musical at the Orange Tree Theatre in 2006.
It is Thursday afternoon. The play opens with a Josef Locke record playing on the wireless as Mrs O'Brien enters her kitchen and turns the radio off abruptly. As she makes pastry she sings about the rigours of being sole head of the house. (HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER) During the song, her children - Larry, Sheila, Dickie, Orla and Conor - enter boisterously. At the end of the number, they are seated, ready for dinner. They disapprovingly discuss their next door neighbours, the Hennessy family, who are seen lit in a separate space, eating their own dinner. Mrs O'Brien mentions Miriam having been recently widowed and moving back from New York. The local newspaper arrives in the O'Brien kitchen and Sheila reads it aloud. She reads out an item about a baby competition and Mrs O'Brien is suddenly transfixed, determined to enter little Conor. Dickie's fiancé, Dymphna, arrives with news that baby Max Hennessy from next door (Miriam's son) is to be entered for it. Mrs O'Brien is roused and commands Sheila to complete an entry letter for Conor immediately. The family disperses and Dymphna nags Dickie to set a wedding date. Mrs O'Brien sets off to post Conor's entry to the competition.
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