Imagine having NO plans on becoming a father and then you get an unexpected surprise under life changing circumstances.
(Jeff Lorch)
‘tiny father’ is a riveting story of Daniel (Maurice Williams) who was in a situationship with Yuki who he met at work and who unexpectedly becomes pregnant with their daughter.
Daniel finds himself in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hovering over his unplanned daughter that he wasn’t going to meet but has arrived ahead of schedule at 26 weeks. Yuki decided she didn’t want Daniel to be apart of the babies life based on his response to her pregnancy but she unexpectedly dies after childbirth leaving him to figure out what’s next.
Over the next 109 days Daniel befriends his daughter’s night care nurse Caroline (Tiffany Villarin) while dealing with planning Yuki’s funeral due to her family living in Japan and grappling with the thought of being a single and unprepared father.
(Jeff Lorch)
Over the course of this 90 minute production, playwright Mike Lew explores the belief that black women are more likely due to die during childbirth than other races, how premature girls are more “resilient” than premature boys and the necessity to add the baby to the medical insurance policy so her elongated stay in the NICU is covered.
Daniel has to overcome a wide range of emotions as he watches his daughter, whom he names Sophia, overcome struggles and benchmarks she needs to reach before being discharged while assessing everything he lacks to be a father to Sophia.
‘tiny father’ is playing on the enormous Gil Cates Theatre at the Geffen Playhouse which provides ample space to shift change throughout Sophia’s stay in the NICU.
The chemistry between Williams and Villarin was on par for the roles they played – tense father and stern nurse – which allowed the audience to feel the authenticity of the characters.
Overall, the set and sound design felt like you were in the NICU at the UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital on any given day with parents rest assured that all babies are provided with the best care possible to reach the same goal as Sophia. Going home.
‘tiny father’
Where: Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends July 14
Tickets: $30-$129 (subject to change)
Contact: (310) 208-2028 or geffenplayhouse.org
Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
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