‘Babe’ review — Marisa Tomei-led punk play hits wobbly notes
Read our review of Babe off Broadway, a new play written by Jessica Goldberg, directed by Scott Elliott, and produced by the theatre company The New Group.
It’s telling that the most cohesive musical moment of Babe, Jessica Goldberg’s new play with The New Group, doesn’t feature the original music by BETTY or the performances of fictional punk princess Kat Wonder (Gracie McGraw). Nor does it showcase an artist plucked from obscurity by Gus (Arliss Howard), a prickly yet successful record producer who just got out of sensitivity training but still rubs new hire Katherine (also McGraw) the wrong way.
Instead, it’s fellow record producer Abigail (Marisa Tomei) and Kat jamming to Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl,” the riot grrrl inspiration for Kat’s persona and oeuvre. Babe is more imitative than innovative, copying not just musicians but the social politics of workplace harassment more skillfully explored by other writers.
Tomei’s celebrity will attract audiences, but her performance mostly consists of blurting through awkward encounters and grooving to each new artist Katherine brings to work. (A final confrontation between Abigail and Gus finally delivers emotional satisfaction, though Abigail’s sudden change of heart arrives too swiftly.) The characters also speak of music like it’s foreign, its comforts a secret to anyone outside the industry, with only vague descriptors.
“I love this part — when the music does this,” Katherine waxes over a record when she squirrels her way into Abigail’s apartment. For all her arguments that Gus doesn’t know what young people want to listen to, Katherine doesn’t offer any specifics either. Director Scott Elliott’s production is tepid, only dipping its toes into both the content of its conflicts and the fervor of its music.
Babe summary
When post-grad Katherine (McGraw) takes a job at a famous record label, the old guard — producer Gus (Howard) and his protégé Abigail (Tomei), who’ve worked together since discovering a punk superstar named Kat Wonder (also McGraw) in 1989 – must stay on their toes. Katherine doesn’t appreciate Gus’s penchant for discussing her body, rejecting all her new artist pitches, or retelling old, inappropriate office stories, and Abby is too tired to keep intervening.
Katherine wants Abigail to understand that Gus’s special treatment is another form of his abuse, but Abigail is too busy reminiscing on her life with Kat to consider the future. When Katherine goes rogue, Abigail learns taking her power back could have unintended consequences.
What to expect at Babe
Babe runs approximately 85 minutes without an intermission. The play features a strobe light sequence and loud music. Characters discuss and depict sexual harassment and other sexual scenarios. Additionally, Babe portrays drug and alcohol consumption and cancer treatment.
What audiences are saying about Babe
Babe has an audience approval rating of 67% on the review aggregator Show-Score.
- Show-Score user GreatAvi praised Babe as “thought-provoking” and pointed out how the double casting of McGraw highlights her two characters’ similar sensibilities.
- Show-Score user Bruce 6 called Goldberg’s play “all over the place, with little character development.”
- Show-Score user Kim G City wrote that Babe “touched on some interesting themes” and praised the cast’s performances, but also said the play “did not push the envelope enough, so it came off flat.”
Read more audience reviews of Babe on Show-Score.
Who should see Babe
- Fans of the eclectic band BETTY will want to check out their new original music for Babe, especially the riot grrrl-inspired songwriting of character Kat.
- If you enjoyed Netflix’s astronaut drama Away, you’ll want to check out executive producer and showrunner Goldberg’s new play on an entirely different, earthside topic.
- Fans of Marisa Tomei’s extensive theatre and film roles won’t want to miss her starring turn as Abigail in Babe.
Learn more about Babe off Broadway
Babe is unsure of its footing, but Tomei remains a star worth seeing shine.
Photo credit: Babe off Broadway. (Photos by Monique Carboni)
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