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eye WEEKLY                                                 May 9, 1996
Toronto's arts newspaper                      .....free every Thursday
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ON STAGE                                                      ON STAGE

                           BREEDING GROUND

Featuring Catherine Bray, Scott Watson and Amy Sellors. Written by
Catherine Bray with music by David Bray. Directed by Roseann Wilshere.
Solar Stage, 4950 Yonge St. (Madison Centre). To May 25. $12-$18. 221-
9855.

                                  by
                          Simone Abrahamsohn

Sleep deprivation, morning sickness and weight gain: the proverbial
cornerstones of pregnancy. As a childless, single woman I experience
all three on a fairly regular basis. The first from staying out late,
the second from hangovers and the third from a metabolic misfortune.

 So, although I couldn't relate directly to the subject matter of
Breeding Ground, I found the show completely entertaining thanks to
the witty script, superb acting and imaginative musical score (by
David Bray).

Playwright and actor Catherine Bray (Kate) wrote the script in
conjunction with her musician brother, David, after discovering they
were both expecting their (respective) first child on the same day.

The play follows Kate, a 32-year-old yuppie, from the time she spills
the news to her shocked husband Michael (the versatile Scott Watson)
up until the baby's birth and first few weeks.

The multi-skilled cast is rounded out by the hilarious Amy Sellors,
who plays Carol (a single pregnant woman) as well as a medley of other
quirky characters.

Watson compellingly portrays the angst of an expectant woman's
husband, contending with his wife's hormonally-induced mood swings and
food cravings. In addition to his main role as Michael, Watson also
provides a portfolio of wacky characters -- a few of which are female
-- including an older woman who eagerly shares her war stories of
"excruciating" childbirths with the anxious Kate.

The show is a fun trip though the blooming land of pregnancy, both for
those who've been there and for those who are simply the products of
the experience.  

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