Dreaming Tiger Productions, February 2012
In this intriguing modern take on the Sleeping Beauty tale, Catherine
(Nicola Turnbull) and Michael (Philip Roberts) are a middle-aged couple unable to conceive of their own accord. They choose
instead to have an egg from an anonymous female donor, which is fertilized inside Catherine's body with Michael's sperm. Rose
(Keighan Sutton) grows up to be a hyper-active child, whose sole interest seems to be to have The Sleeping Beauty
read to her over and over again.
While both parents love their child, they find that the task of looking after her
is particularly onerous. Catherine obtains some tranquilizers to help her sleep, but inadvertently leaves them around the
house. Rose takes them, believing that they are sweets, with potentially catastrophic results.
This cautionary is contrasted with The Sleeping Beauty, parts of which Rose
reads out direct to listeners. In a fairy-tale world, good and evil are easily distinguishable, with good triumphing
in the end. In the world of Catherine and Michael, such qualities are not so easily distinguishable. Rose does not identify
with this world, and takes refuge in faity-tales.
Ben Atkinson and Webster-Sudborough (who also directed and produced, as well as writing
the script) produced a sad little tale, showing just how difficult it can be for parents - especially those who have children
during middle-age.
