What If They Ate The Baby?

Review by Jack

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Three-time consecutive Fringe First Award winners Xhloe and Natasha land in Soho with an exclusive double bill and last night I got to see What If They Ate the Baby?

What if they are the baby is an unsettling theatrical experience that layers its story through repetition, revealing new perspectives with each cycle. While it takes some time to fully engage with, the moments of realization that emerge throughout make the journey worthwhile.

At its core, the show plays like a true crime story unraveling in real time—each scene adding another piece to the puzzle. The narrative follows a group of 1950s American housewives with a dark, cannibalistic secret, blending eerie domesticity with creeping horror. The script’s structure is its greatest strength, using its repetitive format to peel back layers of meaning, much like an investigation unfolding before the audience.

The show’s soundscape is a mix of 1950s music and modern tracks, though at times, the balance feels slightly off. The contrast is effective, but a deeper integration of classic ‘50s melodies—perhaps remixed or woven more seamlessly with contemporary elements—could heighten the nostalgic dissonance and enhance the atmosphere.

Ultimately, the play leaves its final interpretation up to the audience. The ambiguity of the ending invites discussion, making it fascinating to consider how different viewers might walk away with entirely different readings of the story. What If They Ate the Baby? could be seen as a slow-burn to start, but for those willing to engage with its layered storytelling, it offers a darkly compelling experience.