Review: DON’T ASK DON’T GET, BABY, Happy Accident - The Space (Online)

Light-hearted but sincere, Don’t Ask Don’t Get, Baby explores a young woman’s coming of age as she comes to terms of being a Donor Conceived Person. “Donor Conceived Person. Honestly I think I prefer Test Tube Baby.”

Written and performed by Alice Underwood and directed by Izzy Carney, Don’t Ask Don’t Get, Baby by Happy Accident Theatre Company explores the story of how being a test tube baby can have its many twists and turns. In many ways, it might make someone who is from a similar background feel more understood. 

During this 45-minute one-woman show, Alice cleverly brings a variety of different characters to life, including family members, a teacher & school pupils where the misunderstanding & disagreement of IVF is brought to light by the pupils during a Biology lesson. Uplifting whilst serious at the same time, the quick paced timing with both comedy and reflective storytelling has you totally immersed. 

The scene change intervals, with Alice moving props around the stage, works well with the pace of the show and with the fluidity of moving from scene to scene. The change of sound and lighting during these intervals also aids this and fits very well. 

Explanation of IVF life is key in this production and is told brilliantly by Underwood. It gives us an insight into how being a donor baby has affected her as she takes us on a journey through the different stages in her life. It would also be a relatable story for anyone who might have felt they are singled out from the majority, or those who may want to learn more about the subject and how it makes these people feel. 

This piece of theatre is beautifully put together and succeeds in showing different points of view on the important subject it is trying to communicate. 

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Emily East

Don’t Ask Don’t Get, Baby plays at The Space until 24 July.