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tiny father
Daniel is a freelancer without health insurance or a committed relationship when he suddenly finds himself as the sole caregiver for his dangerously premature daughter. As he grapples with whether he will run from responsibility or grow into fatherhood, he befriends an outspoken neonatal intensive care unit nurse struggling to balance the demands of her job and her own family. Penned by playwright Mike Lew and directed by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel, tiny father explores the humorous truth about parenting and the fear that comes from an emotionally exhausting health scare.
Playwright Mike Lew was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible commissioned playwright, he received funding and creative support to develop tiny father.
Playwright Mike Lew was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible commissioned playwright, he received funding and creative support to develop tiny father.
Audible Audio
Published April 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 25, 2021
Thank you GR friend Tania for your appealing review of “Tiny Father”. It’s one of those freebies from Audible that is a delightful interlude between those long and involved stories. If you have 90 minutes and are a parent, you will love this story.
Mike Lew is the playwright of “Tiny Father”. He writes that he was inspired to write this after the birth of his second child who was born an extreme preemie. He wanted to write about NICU life and the fears of being a parent. He succeeded! From the start, we learn the father of this teeny-tiny baby is in over his head. First, the baby was born at 26 weeks….yikes! And then we learn that it was a “friends with benefits” baby, with more on the benefit side than friend side. Thus, the dad was not planning on being a full-time father. Circumstances change that plan, and we, the listener, gain a front row seat to his evolution into fatherhood.
As one can imagine, the NICU is a stressful place. But Lew adds charming and funny moments. When the father can finally touch his baby and is able to change a diaper, with all the beeps and alarms (which we get to hear as well), he exclaims “am I changing a diaper or defusing a bomb?” Oh there’s much debate over feedings and sleep schedules. There’s competition of other babies going home before your baby. The baby needs to be fattened up to a healthy weight and the father muses over a similar fattening protocol (gavage) used to fatten ducks for foie gras (which is outlawed in the state of California for being inhumane).
The production is narrated by Ali Ahn and William Jackson. I was sad when it ended…..
Mike Lew is the playwright of “Tiny Father”. He writes that he was inspired to write this after the birth of his second child who was born an extreme preemie. He wanted to write about NICU life and the fears of being a parent. He succeeded! From the start, we learn the father of this teeny-tiny baby is in over his head. First, the baby was born at 26 weeks….yikes! And then we learn that it was a “friends with benefits” baby, with more on the benefit side than friend side. Thus, the dad was not planning on being a full-time father. Circumstances change that plan, and we, the listener, gain a front row seat to his evolution into fatherhood.
As one can imagine, the NICU is a stressful place. But Lew adds charming and funny moments. When the father can finally touch his baby and is able to change a diaper, with all the beeps and alarms (which we get to hear as well), he exclaims “am I changing a diaper or defusing a bomb?” Oh there’s much debate over feedings and sleep schedules. There’s competition of other babies going home before your baby. The baby needs to be fattened up to a healthy weight and the father muses over a similar fattening protocol (gavage) used to fatten ducks for foie gras (which is outlawed in the state of California for being inhumane).
The production is narrated by Ali Ahn and William Jackson. I was sad when it ended…..
October 15, 2021
This is definitely one of my favorite free audible original listens. Both narrators were amazing and had my crying, laughing and going aaah! many times.
If you have an hour and a half, use it to listen to tiny father.
The Story: A slice-of-life comedy about parenthood in extremis, tiny father began as an Audible commission and is loosely based on playwright Mike Lew's own experience with a NICU baby.
If you have an hour and a half, use it to listen to tiny father.
The Story: A slice-of-life comedy about parenthood in extremis, tiny father began as an Audible commission and is loosely based on playwright Mike Lew's own experience with a NICU baby.
August 5, 2022
Both heartbreaking and hopeful. I hurt most for Sophia but could empathize with Daniel and his "deer in the headlights" response to all things parenting. I loved Caroline. As Daniel evolves throughout the story so does she and their relationship culminates in a really satisfying way. This one will hit close to home for parents.
April 7, 2024
Tylenol is NOT an NSAID. Tylenol (acetaminophen) IS SAFE for pregnancy. Motrin/Advil/Ibuprofen is the commonly used anti-inflammatory that is NOT safe for pregnancy.
But don't the word of a random book review, call your pharmacist. :)
Otherwise, this story was great!
But don't the word of a random book review, call your pharmacist. :)
Otherwise, this story was great!
September 28, 2023
One of the better audible-theater productions I've listened to.
July 9, 2024
read for mccarter
lovely & sweet & funny!
marking as a placeholder for sisters by matthew libby which BROKE MY HEART like i teared up in the office.
one more marked as read for the morning after by erica saleh which.... is questionable. i enjoyed most of it and found it thought provoking until the end. i fucking hate the ending and think if it were to be produced as is it would be actively dangerous/harmful
one more for culture shock by gloria majule! hilarious and thought-provoking (ish) but needs some work, especially with the ending i think
two more for brushstroke by john ross bowie which i really liked and think mccarter should put it up and for struck by sandy rustin that was just ok
lovely & sweet & funny!
marking as a placeholder for sisters by matthew libby which BROKE MY HEART like i teared up in the office.
one more marked as read for the morning after by erica saleh which.... is questionable. i enjoyed most of it and found it thought provoking until the end. i fucking hate the ending and think if it were to be produced as is it would be actively dangerous/harmful
one more for culture shock by gloria majule! hilarious and thought-provoking (ish) but needs some work, especially with the ending i think
two more for brushstroke by john ross bowie which i really liked and think mccarter should put it up and for struck by sandy rustin that was just ok
June 13, 2024
New journey of a father of a tiny baby
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
The beginning was sad with the tiny baby being born early and then mom passing away from health complications very sadly. However, it is nice to see Daniel not just take up the responsibility of Sofia but also become a loving and affectionate father gradually if not from the very beginning.
Caroline plays an important role in Sofia's early stages at the hospital and seemed like a good support system for Daniel to embrace parenting. It is very touching and I can only imagine the journey of parents of babies in NICU. A well written story though it is also a reality as well.
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
The beginning was sad with the tiny baby being born early and then mom passing away from health complications very sadly. However, it is nice to see Daniel not just take up the responsibility of Sofia but also become a loving and affectionate father gradually if not from the very beginning.
Caroline plays an important role in Sofia's early stages at the hospital and seemed like a good support system for Daniel to embrace parenting. It is very touching and I can only imagine the journey of parents of babies in NICU. A well written story though it is also a reality as well.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews