Be My Baby (Amanda Whittington play)

Be My Baby is a play written by Amanda Whittington, first performed in 1998. It tells the story of Mary Adams, a pregnant 19-year-old from a middle-class background, who is sent to a mother-and-baby home in 1964 Liverpool to give birth and subsequently give her child up for adoption.

The play explores themes of social class, societal expectations surrounding unmarried mothers in the 1960s, the stigma associated with illegitimacy, and the power dynamics between the young women and the authority figures running the home. Mary's experiences are contrasted with those of other girls in the home, each from different backgrounds and with varying degrees of acceptance or resistance to their situations.

Music plays a significant role in Be My Baby. The play's title is derived from The Ronettes' popular song, and other girl-group songs of the era are woven throughout the narrative, acting as a counterpoint to the restrictive environment of the mother-and-baby home and expressing the girls' hopes, dreams, and frustrations. The music serves to both create a sense of time and place, and to highlight the emotional lives of the characters.

The setting is crucial to the play's impact, with the isolation and regimentation of the home reflecting the limited choices available to unmarried pregnant women at the time. The play often utilizes a minimalist set, focusing attention on the characters' interactions and inner struggles.

Be My Baby has been widely performed in schools and theaters due to its accessibility, emotional resonance, and its exploration of important social issues. It is often studied in drama and English literature courses.