TWO'S COMPANY...THREE'S A FAMILY

Babies are born everyday.

But in Paula Vogel's And Baby Makes Seven, the current offering at Off The Wall in Washington PA, this everyday occurrence becomes anything but ordinary.

Ruth (Tressa Glover) and Anna, (Robyne Parrish)  a lesbian couple, is having a baby--with the help of their gay college friend Peter (Tony Bingham).

Trouble is, Ruth and Anna already have a family--three imaginary children who are their alter-egos: Cecil, a nine year-old genius; Henry, an eight year-old French boy; and Orphan who is 7 and was raised by wolves.

Peter believes that before their real baby arrives, these imaginary children have to go.

Under the direction of Linda Haston, the "offing" of these imaginary children is nothing short of a laugh riot.  First-nighters were complaining of sore sides and tired jaws from the non-stop laughs.

The cast is brilliant with pitch-perfect comic timing.

But it is Glover who gives the tour-de-force performance of the show.  She has three unforgettable moments.

First, she simultaneously plays both Henry and Orphan fighting over a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich.

Next, she has a lengthy death scene as Orphan succumbs to rabies.

Finally, there is a very touching scene when Henri doesn't want to quietly into "that good night."

And, yes, it is an outrageous comedy--but And Baby Makes Seven does have some touching emotional moments.  Bingham portrays genuine, fearful doubts about his ability to be a good father to the child who is on the way.  Parrish has a funny emotional (but don't say "hormonal") breakdown, when pregnancy just gets to be too much for her.  However, Parrish never moves believable as a hugely pregnant woman.  She glides gracefully across the stage, never making the obvious padding convincing.

But that is just a minor complaint in what is otherwise a "do not miss" production.

Once again, set designer Paul A. Shaw finds simple ways to make the most of Off The Wall's small stage.

And while it is a play about the creation of a new kind of family, And Baby Makes seven is NOT family-friendly entertainment.  There is adult language and very adult situations--so leave the children at home!

And Baby Makes Seven runs through March 10.