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A surreal and nightmarish take on 50s Desperate Housewives.Summary
Rating
Excellent
In a whimsical fusion reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland meets Desperate Housewives, What if They Ate the Baby? catapults audiences into a kaleidoscope of colourful chaos, set against a backdrop of 1950s picture-perfect Americana with a deliciously rotten core. With a Lynchian quality to the nightmarish forces playing underneath, this production isn’t one to be intellectualised but experienced. There’s a whirlwind of questions that won’t leave audiences indifferent, marking a tremendous success for the duo behind it all.
Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland play two perfect 50s housewives engaging in a menial conversation about husbands, babies, neighbours and food. What sets this apart is their delivery and synchronicity. Here, every smile is as artificial as their doll-like makeup. Reality blurs with nightmares in perfect timing and choreographed precision, as the cast masterfully mirrors each other’s actions, leading to uproarious laughter and gasps of astonishment.
At the heart of this twisted tale lies the question: ‘What’s bubbling underneath that fake smile?’ Through a series of repetitive, mundane conversations, the two perfect housewives’ relationship becomes clearer and every repetition reveals a new layer. Themes like surveillance, cannibalism, and queerness, not to mention the McCarthyism era – an idealised period in American history marked by paranoia – unfold as the plot progresses.
Neighbours that initially seem benign reveal themselves to be catalysts for life-altering events, playing to the mischievous antics of a soundtrack ranging from Beastie Boys to Billie Eilish. Yet, amidst the chaos and absurdity, there’s a method to the madness — a surreal symmetry that binds the story together like a macabre dance.
Each character is a caricature, exaggerated to the point of hilarity yet grounded just enough to resonate with the audience on a primal level. Through its kooky style and perfectly imperfect portrayal of 50s suburban life, the performance invites viewers to indulge in a sensory experience where nightmares creep ever closer, blurring the line between comedy and tragedy into oblivion.
The production excels on every level, marking a tremendous triumph for the American duo. While one may be left with a sense of not fully grasping the play’s overarching theme, it hardly matters, as the experience itself is a captivating journey that takes you on a thrilling ride. So grab a seat, buckle up, and prepare to be swept away on a rollercoaster ride through the twisted minds of desperate housewives who are anything but desperate for a slice of the American dream.
Written by : Xhloe Rice & Natasha Roland
Lighting Design: Angelo Sagnelli
Produced by: Nicholas Abrams & Richard Williams in association with theSpaceUK
What if They Ate the Baby? plays at King’s Head Theatre until 7 April. Further information and bookings can be found here.
