Taking Care of Baby

Synopsis

A docu-drama which tackles the controversial case of Donna McAuliffe, imprisoned for killing her children. In a series of probing interviews, the people in this extraordinary story, including Donna's bewildered mother Lyn, reveal how they may have harmed those they sought to protect. This play contains strong language. Age 13+

Our Review:

5 June 2007

“Working with mothers who have tortured their children has restored my faith in humanity.” Is this the most disturbing line uttered on the British stage this year? It comes from a doctor, who is being questioned about the psychological state of a mother, Donna McAuliffe, accused of murdering her two children.

The questioner is a disembodied voice, that of the playwright, perhaps, Dennis Kelly. The mother, Donna, is a real-life woman who was acquitted on appeal of the murder charge after serving a humiliating prison sentence while her own mother, a local politician with an eye on the main chance, campaigned for her release.

Out of verbatim interviews and cunning editorial, Kelly has fashioned a play, and director Anthony Clark a production – a collaboration between Hampstead and the Birmingham Rep – that is one of the highlights of the year. Kelly is a rising star and confirms his promise with this piece after the compelling Osama the Hero a...

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Latest User Review

Gareth James - 21 June 2007:

I've seen much verbatim theatre, but this is the only personal story I've seen done in this way and I found it uncomfortable and disturbing. I don't doubt the integrity of the writer, but editing produces treatments and interpretations. I found his 'treatment' of the husband rather unfair. I am prepared to accept his 'interpretation' of the doctor and the reporter, but I find it difficult to accept the cynicism of the mother. It does work on stage, though it takes time to get going and could do with a shorter first half. The fact that I'm still turning it over in my mind 10 hours later is, of course, a tribute to the power of this type of theatre; but I'm not entirely convinced of its objectivity. ...

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