THE BABY

SUMMARY

Rome, 78BC. The ruler of Rome, Sulla, has just died. He has been
much loved and much hated. Loved, because he has cut inflation and
interest rates and restored public order. Hated, because he has achieved
this by repressing the working-classes and lowering expenditure on the
poor. When he dies, the professional mourners who are asked to wail at
his state funeral don't like the idea of weeping and tearing their hair
for someone who caused them so much grief while he was alive, and they
threaten to strike. This brings about massive retaliation from Pompey
(Sulla's political heir) - which falls mostly on the head of the
heroine, Macu, the woman who has led the wailers' protest. To teach the
wailers a lesson, Pompey orders his followers to start a fire in the part of
town where they live - a fire in which Macu's daughter dies.

Written in a contemporary language representing Rome as somewhere
which resembles a modern, polyglot, violent city with powerful competing
interests and a large under-class, the play is a portrait of a divided
nation. It's also about Macu and her anger. What's she supposed to do
with it? When can she grieve?

First produced at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, 13th October 1990. It
was directed by Michael Boyd and designed by Rae Smith. The cast was
Rosaleen Pelan (Macu), Billy McColl (Wocky), Ross Dunsmore
(Pompey/Rufus/Butter), John Stahl (Crassus/Sorcha/Size), Jennifer Black
(Emilia/Jalata/Nuddy), Hilary McLean (Marcella/Ayeesha/Phyllida), Anne Lacey
(Flood/Ranee/Zuzibarra), Jenny McCrindle (Rana/Laura/Ushla/Sharma), Peter
Grimes (Gobber/Grin/Joppa)