Based on the 1990 cult-classic John Waters film of the same name, which starred Johnny Depp, LPD in association with Hayes Theatre Co have announced the Australian premiere season of the rockabilly musical, Cry-Baby for a limited season from 20 July 2018.
It’s 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He’s a bad boy with a good cause – truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Cry-Baby and the square rich girl, Allison, are star-crossed lovers at the centre of this world.
Fueled by hormones and the new rhythms of rock and roll, she turns her back on her squeaky-clean boyfriend, Baldwin, to become a “drape” (a Baltimore juvenile delinquent) and Cry-Baby’s girl. At the other end of the topsy-turvy moral meritocracy of 1954 America, Baldwin is the king of the squares and leads his close-harmony pals against the juvenile delinquents.
A wacky, strange and endearing musical, Cry-Baby features a delightfully ridiculous book from the writers of Hairspray (Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan) and David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger’s rip-roaring score including the wildly titled songs such as The Anti-Polio Picnic; Misery, Agony, Helplessness, Hopelessness, Heartache & Woe; and Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?
“We are thrilled to be presenting the Australian premiere of the musical adaptation of “King of Trash” John Waters’ subversive cult classic romp Cry-Baby,” says Director Alexander Berlage (There Will Be a Climax, Home Invasion). “Cry-Baby is a grotesque mirror held up to the world, a rip-roaring provocative satirical comedy about paranoia, bigotry and the irrational fear of ‘the other’ in a 1950’s post-war Baltimore.”
“Waters captures 1950’s America then parodies and transcends the period to create a piece with themes and ideas which ring just as relevant to us today. In a time of increased social awareness and incredible progress towards a kinder and more inclusive world, Cry-Baby is that little reminder that everything wasn’t as squeaky clean as some may often lament it so, and more often than not, it is far better to ‘make things great again’.”
Joining Berlage as part of the creative team is choreographer Cameron Mitchell (The View UpStairs, Calamity Jane), set designer Isabel Hudson (The View UpStairs, Dry Land), and costume designer Mason Browne (Darlinghurst Nights, Ruthless).
Cry-Baby runs from 20 July, and replaces the production of American Psycho which was previously scheduled to play at this time. Tickets on sale: Thursday 19 April 2018. For more information, visit: www.hayestheatre.com.au for details.
Image: courtesy of LPD / Hayes Theatre Co