Rachel Cairns holds nothing back in talking about her abortion. Through her hit solo show Hypothetical Baby, as well as her podcast “Aborsh,” Cairns frankly discusses the circumstances around her own abortion, as well as the laws and issues in Canada and the US which have informed our thoughts and stigmas around the subject. Hypothetical Baby is back in Toronto, this time produced by Nightwood Theatre in association with The Howland Company on the main stage of Factory Theatre, and with the socio-political climate the way it is, this play is more important now than ever before.

If you’d like to read more about my thoughts on the story and staging of Hypothetical Baby, you can read my review of the 2023 production at Tarragon Theatre here: https://aviewfromthebox.net/2023/12/15/the-howland-companys-hypothetical-baby/

You can also listen to my interview with Rachel about Hypothetical Baby and “Aborsh” here: https://aviewfromthebox.net/a-view-from-the-box-the-podcast/

This current production from Nightwood and The Howland Company at Factory Theatre is identical to the 2023 production, save for the platform upon which Cairns performs being in a much larger space. Cairns’ performance is passionate and thought-provoking; the work she has done to create both the play and podcast is evident. Her vulnerability is key: by sharing the details of her abortion, she’s helping take a massive step to the issue becoming less taboo and being spoken of as another element of our health care (which is what abortion truly is).

Between seeing it in 2023 and now, I’ve listened to Cairn’s podcast “Aborsh” and I would actually recommend listening to it after you’ve seen the show. The podcast is like the extended director’s cut of Hypothetical Baby; instead of only getting to spend a small portion talking about the people who’ve fought for abortion, laws around reproductive rights, and intersectionality of the issues at play, “Aborsh” takes it all on, with each episode giving insight into a different aspect of abortion. Season 1 also includes parts of the story you’ll hear in Hypothetical Baby (which I why I recommend listening to it afterwards), along with so much information that you realize you never learned in school. Season 2, which is still airing, has two episodes per week: one is an informational episode with interviews about various topics pertaining to reproductive health, while the second episode is the specific abortion stories of various guests Cairns has on the podcast. Like Hypothetical Baby, these stories are unique to the individual yet speak to the stories of many others like them.

The other aspect of Hypothetical Baby which struck a different chord with me in this production is the concept of care which Cairns mentions during her land acknowledgement and again at the end of the production. The Dish with One Spoon Treaty is about everyone taking only what they need to ensure that there’s enough to go around: to care for one another. She extends this concept to taking care of a child – if every parent could have the support they needed to take care of themselves and their children, then maybe more people would consider having kids. This idea of community and being there for others who have kids even if you don’t yourself really spoke to me. I adore being an aunt to my little nephew, and with a couple more nephews on the way, I want to be a part of the care networks for those little humans. The same day that I saw Hypothetical Baby, my mother-in-law texted me asking if I had time for a video call. Now I know this isn’t because she needed to talk to me: if she’s asking like that, it’s because my nephew wants to chat and Aunt Janine is usually available. So of course I dropped what I was doing to chat with him! And I love that this is part of my care role in his life: Auntie Janine is always up for a face time no matter what. He also knows that I’ll happily watch whatever he wants to on TV with him during his TV time, and that we’ll share a blanket and get all cozy and watch his favourite shows. Knowing that I’m a part of his life, while also being a reliable part of the care network his parents need to help take care of him, is what I’ve waited for for a long time, and it means the world to me. Hypothetical Baby made me consider what that role is and how I can extend it to ensure that it’s having the impact his parents need to take care of his and his little brother who’s on the way.

Realistically, Hypothetical Baby could be a really heavy night at the theatre: when you hear the statistics about how difficult it is to have a child, and think about the amount of stigma associated with abortion, it’s no wonder Cairns was feeling overwhelmed during the process. Instead, it takes a purposefully hopeful stance, all stemming from the idea of care and community. Hypothetical Baby is educational and inspirational, and I highly encourage everyone to listen to and follow the excellent work Cairns is doing on and off stage.

Hypothetical Baby, produced by Nightwood Theatre in association with The Howland Company, is running in the Factory Theatre Mainspace until March 8. For more information and tickets, visit: https://howlandcompanytheatre.com/shows/hypothetical-baby/

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Cover Photo: Rachel Cairns. Photo by Dahlia Katz (2023 Production)

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