Arts and Entertainment

Berks theatre department to present 'Baby with the Bathwater'

READING, Pa. — The Penn State Berks Department of Theatre will present "Baby with the Bathwater" by Christopher Durang as its spring mainstage production April 19-22 in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium on campus. All performances start at 8 p.m.

According to the Dramatists Play Service website: As the play begins, Helen and John gaze proudly at their new offspring, a bit disappointed that it doesn't speak English and too polite to check its sex. So they decide that the child is a girl and name it Daisy — which leads to all manner of future emotional and personality problems when it turns out that Daisy is actually a boy. Thereafter, in a series of brilliantly theatrical and wildly hilarious scenes, the saga of Daisy's struggle to establish his identity continues, despite his parents' growing obliviousness. At the outset there is a zany nanny who gives him a lethal toy to play with; then the small problem of Daisy's penchant, as a toddler, for throwing himself in front of buses; then his bizarre problems in school; and, finally, the sessions with his analyst which enable him, at last, to accept his maleness and stop wearing dresses. In the end the play comes full circles as the former Daisy and his young bride fondly regard their own baby — forgiving of the past but determined not to repeat its calamitous mistakes.

The production will be directed by Maria Mogford, theatre instructor at Penn State Berks. The role of Helen will be played by sophomore Jenny VonHolt; John will be played by Michael Williams, a senior theatre major; and Daisy will be played by sophomore William Kyle Whitlock III. Rounding out the cast are senior theatre major Christopher Crawford as the teacher, senior Alexis Mercer as Cynthia and woman 2, sophomore Olivia Johnson as the nanny and woman 1, sophomore Angie Nertavich as the principal, first-year student Valentina Martinez as Susan, and first-year student Maurice Nelson as the voice.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the box office at 610-396-6371. Tickets are $5 for Penn State students, faculty and staff with a Penn State ID and $10 for the general public. The bachelor of arts in theatre provides students with a solid foundation to become successful theatre artists and effective theatre educators. The degree program also trains students in the skills to become effective communicators and professional program managers.

Last Updated March 24, 2016