Theater Review – February 16, 2025

A LESS THAN PERFECT PRODUCTION STIFFLES “FETAL’s” CRITICAL MESSAGE

“Fetal”
Stray Cat Theatre, Studio Theatre, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Trista Baldwin’s new play “Fetal” is set in a Houston abortion clinic on the day Roe v. Wade was killed by the newly conservative Supreme Court.  The play is certainly a telling tale on women losing a cherished right to decide if and when they should bring a baby into this troubled world.  Unfortunately, The Stray Cat Theatre (SCT) production lacks sharp staging and dynamic acting so it sputters instead of sprinting toward enforcing its critical message.

E.E. Moe’s static staging lets the play meander when it should sting and bite. The setting, a gigantic medical waiting room, doesn’t help as the characters – three female patients and the practice’s receptionist – drift back and forth idly from chair to chair. A small area in this very open space serves as a place where the patients’ medical consults occur within ear-shot of all the other patients, a strangely unrealistic arrangement.  Other patients should never be able to hear such private chats.

The three patients are at different places in their lives so all are considering abortions for varying reasons.  Cass has had her share of babies and abortions so another baby just doesn’t fit.  Lucy has a child, wants another, but being older makes her hesitate.  Liv is very young and apparently didn’t quite understand how easy babies are conceived.  She doesn’t see how a kid will fit into her developing life even though her family has suggested it might work.  Anne is the longtime clinic receptionist who seemingly understands each patient better than they know themselves.  She also seems to have insight into why or why not each should consider their pregnancy decision.  Amazing knowledge for a receptionist who is just meeting these women.

Katie Haas is strongest and most knowing as Cass.  Dolores E. Mendoza is flighty and nervous about her coming baby as Lucy, while Wyatt Murphy should be more wound up as Liv, the youngest patient with the most to lose.  Debra Lyman is initially sincere but becomes more and more judgmental as Anne.

Yes, “Fetal” gets to the heart of the ridiculous extreme of eliminating a woman’s decision on whether or not to have a baby but the production never achieves the pointed edge such a topic must have.  “Fetal” continues through March 1.  To order tickets, call the Stray Cat Theatre box office at 480-350-2822 or order tickets online at www.straycattheatre.org.

Grade: B