Bump

by Chiara Atik, Lucy Devito (Narrator), Anna Lyse Erikson (Narrator)

When Claudia gets pregnant, she has a very clear plan for how she wants to give birth. Her prenatal anxieties inspire her father to create a device for safer deliveries, and Claudia realizes that nothing ever goes quite as expected. Includes a conversation with playwright Chiara Atik and Dr. Judith Reichman, an OB/GYN and longtime medical contributor to The Today Show.

Bump is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series of science-themed plays. Lead funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.

Recorded at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood, in October 2020.

Directed by Rosalind Ayres

Producing Susan Albert Loewenberg

Lucy DeVito as Mary, Apple, Receptionist

Anna Lyse Erikson as Lemon, Third Woman

Alma Martinez as Maria

Anna Mathias as Midwife, Avocado, Doula

Ana Ortiz as Claudia

Moira Quirk as Walnut, Mama, Second Woman

Herbert Sigüenza as Luis

André Sogliuzzo as YouTube Guy

Devon Sorvari as Grapefruit, Waiting Mother

Inger Tudor as Narrator, Plum, Different Mama

Anna Lyse Erikson

Recording Engineer, Editor and Sound Neil Wogensen

Senior Radio Ronn Lipkin

Foley Jeff Gardner

Mixed by Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood

Genres: Plays, Audiobook, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short play about pregnancy alternates between three storylines - the most prominent and interesting is a fictionalized account of the invention of the Odon device, a recent innovation for difficult pregnancies - the other two seem like mere filler to make a (semi-)full length play - one about a group of mothers-to-be who chat on an online message board, and a rather odd one detailing a woman giving birth under primitive conditions in colonial days. It isn't awful and has some much-needed humor - but it didn't really grab, due a basic disinterest in the subject matter.

[Vel Veeter]

This more recent play begins with a few small moments in the life of a pregnancy. We start with a pregnancy message board specifically tied to “December Moms” based on their due dates, which the specific acknowledgement that some might have their babies in November, or January, or not at all, depending.

From there, we move to our central players: Claudia is announcing her very early pregnancy to her parents. Her mom is excited, and her dad doesn’t initially understand what he’s being told. When he figures it out, he’s happy for her. Like most pregnancy announcements, this one brings up issues and Claudia’s parents discuss and likely argue about Claudia’s birth. We get some of the same from the message board, where everybody has an opinion, and a lot of people on the board have opinion on other people’s opinions. My own experience is that pregnancy and parenting bring up some real defensiveness of choices made or not made.

The main action of the play though involves Claudia’s dad, feeling glum about not being there for the birth (he was in the waiting room) when Claudia was born, and also watching a Youtube video and having a moment of inspiration. Thinking about the rough and dangerous births that involve forceps being used, and watching the video in which a wine cork is removed from the inside of a wine bottle with a plastic bag, well you see where this is going.

The play, or this part, is based on the real life discovery by Jorge Odon.

[Mary Havens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the intersection of stories. All the different perspectives on pregnancy from the chat room, the Colonial woman's story, and the modern story of the device. I think my favorite part was the Colonial woman and midwife. It's helpful for pregnant women to hear that no one had it easy and even strong women can be clueless. Even the most prepared women can have no clue either!
There was a section at the end with a famous ob/gyn. I wonder about her stats. She said 50% of midwife attended home births are transferred to the hospital. I find that hard to believe. She also glossed over the US maternal mortality rate but maybe she didn't have time to go into detail? I was listening so if there were footnotes, I couldn't see them.
A fun play!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was really interesting. I enjoy these audio play performances. The whole storyline about the medical device was fascinating. The online posting board was pretty hilarious and felt very authentic. However, I didn't like the weird "flashback" to a random birth in the past. I kept waiting for it to connect in some way and felt like it never really did (unless I missed something). I found both of those characters annoying and that line distracting from the characters in the main play. I also felt like it stole time from getting to know those characters better. There were big time jumps, most of which made sense, but there were a few times I felt like we were being told things that happened in those gaps too much instead of being shown what happened.

[Orlando Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great play that explores the hardships women face in pregnancy and labor, adding a storyline about a mechanic’s invention to help women. The dialogue and scenes are written so well that it feels like you are in the room with real people. The only complaint that I have is that the play sort of just ends. Not that it needed a major climax or anything (going into labor is climactic enough) but it kinda just ended. I was also very unsure about the purpose of Mary’s storyline. Everything else in the play connected to Claudia and her family except for those segments.

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short play dealing with pregnancy. It's funny mostly. It had an interview at the end with the author and an actual Dr which is probably good because some of the stuff isn't accurate. I know it's supposed to be the way people actually freak out and think certain things and how pregnancy is different though.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023
Claudia is excited about her pregnancy and her parents share the excitement.
Her father is so involved he designs a device for assisting challenging births.
What's fun, in the 'post play' conservation, the development of this device is addressed.

The story/play also parallels a woman from ages ago, who lives in a cabin with a fireplace etc
and has a midwife.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very well acted and I love the relationship between the dad and daughter. I also liked the modernized flair of including the online forum conversations. It would have been interesting to see. The ending did feel really rushed, though, and it was super short, so it could have had more to it.

[Glynnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - loved the humor and relationships and information, but I found myself wondering about the action/arc/conflict of the main storyline. Would love to see a performance/reading. Lots of great roles for women.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an audio play more than an audiobook and was part of the AudioSync program for teens through Audiofile magazine. Short, entertaining, and mostly funny. I don't think most teens would enjoy it, but anyone who has given birth probably will.

[Myra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to an LA Theaterworks production of this. Fun little story based on Jorge Odon and the device he invented to help in childbirth (that part of the story is strange and cringe-worthy at times). Would have been 4-stars, but the resolution of Claudia's story is lacking.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The LA Theater Works recording of this play is sensational! I saw the play live at a small local theater and was excited to listen to an audiobook production. A really cool story of the strength of women through the ages.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, engaging play spanning time and space to delve into the complexities of childbirth. A lot of funny lines and great roles for women!

[Wendy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea, I liked listening to this one!

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

A relatively superficial take on expectations in childbirth. Went quickly without a whole lot to say...

[Cara Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the grandpa storyline!

[val · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this in under an hour during class

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

syncYA paired w/ The woman who split the atom

[Shruti]

It's fun but I got bored soon..

[Hzhu1011 · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is so talented. I love the writing. And she wrote it before pregnancy which is so impressive. The play itself is very wholesome. I am in this. Thanks colonial players!!

[Susy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
Based on a true story, never would've known. Very interesting, informative. Funny at times.

Story 8
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 7
Execution/Pace 7
Execution/Setup 7
Enjoyment/Engrossment 8
Narration 8

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story, though it wasn't my favourite.  I enjoyed the full cast audio.  It wasn't something that I knew much about, so it was really neat to learn more about it.