Babes in Toyland is an operetta composed by Victor Herbert with a libretto by Glen MacDonough, which wove together various characters from Mother Goose nursery rhymes into a musical extravaganza. Following the extraordinary success of their stage musical The Wizard of Oz, which was produced in New York beginning in January 1903, producer Fred R. Hamlin and director Julian Mitchell hoped to create more family musicals.Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 29 MacDonough had helped Mitchell with revisions to the Oz libretto by L. Frank Baum. Mitchell and MacDonough persuaded Victor Herbert to join the production. Babes in Toyland features some of Herbert's most famous songs – among them "Toyland", "March of the Toys", "Go to Sleep, Slumber Deep", and "I Can't Do the Sum". The theme song "Toyland", and the most famous instrumental piece from the operetta, "March of the Toys", occasionally show up on Christmas compilations.
The original production opened at the Grand Opera House in Chicago in June 1903, produced by Hamlin and directed by Mitchell, and toured to several East Coast cities before opening in New York in October 1903 and ran for 192 performances. This was followed by many successful tours and revivals. The piece was so popular that it spawned other "fairy-tale" shows over the next decade.Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 255
Productions
After a three-month tryout beginning on June 17, 1903, at the Grand Opera House in Chicago, followed by a tour to several East Coast cities, the original New York production opened on October 13, 1903, at the Majestic Theatre at Columbus Circle in Manhattan (where The Wizard of Oz had played) and closed after 192 performances on March 19, 1904. It was produced by Fred R. Hamlin and directed by Julian Mitchell. Large audiences were drawn to the musical by the spectacular settings and opulent sets (e.g., the Floral Palace of the Moth Queen, the Garden of Contrary Mary) of Toyland. The sets were designed by John H. Young and Homer Emens, with costumes designed by Caroline Siedle.Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 250 In September 1904, two tours went on the road. The first-class one played a three-week return engagement beginning on January 2, 1905, at the Majestic, and then continued its tour, keeping the scenic effects and much of the original cast, and making stops in major cities for extended periods of time. The second-class tour with a reduced cast, more modest scenery, and a smaller 20-piece orchestra was streamlined for short stays on the road.Skretvedt, p. 10
The operetta has been staged nine times at The Muny, beginning in 1920.Newmark, Judith. "Muny at 100: Theater's opening act includes opera, politics and wide acclaim", August 20, 2017; "Rowan and Martin in Babes in Toyland at Opera", St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), July 21, 1963, p. 91; and Murray, Jessica Kay. "A Brief History of the St. Louis Municipal Theater Association (as written in 1943)", Vintage Reveries, August 5, 2019
A Broadway revival opened on December 23, 1929, at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre, closing on January 11, 1930, after 32 performances. It was directed by Milton Aborn. From New York the company moved on to Keith's Theater in Philadelphia, while a second company played at the Majestic Theatre in Boston. Additional performances followed at Poli's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and finally back at the Majestic in Chicago, for a three-week run beginning on March 26, 1930.Skretvedt, p. 14 Another Broadway revival opened on December 20, 1930, at the Imperial Theatre, closing in January 1931 after 33 performances. It was directed by Aborn and choreographed by Virginie Mauret.Skretvedt, p. 234
A new book and lyrics for the show were written for the off-Broadway Light Opera of Manhattan (LOOM) in 1975 by Alice Hammerstein Mathias (the daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II)Asch, Amy. "Getting to Know Her: Meet Alice Hammerstein Mathias, Oscar's Daughter", Playbill, September 19, 2011, accessed December 4, 2020 and the company's director-producer William Mount-Burke.Kenrick, John. "A Brief History of LOOM: LOOM's Non-G&S Hits", 2002, accessed December 4, 2020 LOOM played this operetta as a Christmas show for six to eight weeks each year thereafter for 13 seasons with considerable success, and this version of the book and lyrics has since been used by various companies, including Troupe America and others.Kershner, Jim. "Babes In Toyland Sets Holiday Stage", The Spokesman-Review, December 5, 1996, accessed December 4, 2020 The ensemble becomes a mechanical militia of toys for the "March of the Toys", and children from the audience are brought up to help "wind-up" the toy dancers.Crutchfield, Will. "Operetta: 'Babes in Toyland. The New York Times, December 17, 1987, accessed 8 February 2020
In 2003, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the operetta, Hampton, Virginia–based Rainbow Puppet Productions created a touring puppet version of the show entitled "Toyland!" The new script was adapted by David Messick Jr. Prerecorded puppet voices were created, featuring Mickey Rooney as the Master Toymaker and his wife Jan Rooney as Mother Goose. The program has toured annually since that time. In this version, Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and her evil Uncle Barnaby is to blame. She travels through the Spider Forest to seek help from the kind Master Toymaker.Shapiro, Craig. "Puppets in Toyland". The Virginian-Pilot, November 27, 2010, accessed March 6, 2011
Characters
Alan, nephew of Barnaby Jane, his sister Uncle Barnaby, a rich miser in love with Contrary Mary The Widow Piper, a widow with 14 children Tom Tom, her eldest son Contrary Mary, her eldest daughter Little Bo-Peep, who is a careless shepherdess Peter, who has a passion for pumpkin pie Tommy Tucker, who sings for his supper and everything else Sallie Waters, who wants to get married Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffet, Curly Locks, Red Riding Hood, Bobby Shaftoe, Simple Simon and Boy Blue Hilda, the Widow Piper's maid The Master Toymaker, who designs toys of the world Grumio, apprentice to the Master Toymaker Gonzorgo and Roderigo, Barnaby's hired ruffians Inspector Marmaduke, of the Toyland Police The Spirit of the Pine and the Spirit of the Oak Gertrude, a peasant The Moth Queen, the Giant Spider and the Brown Bear Dandies, Flower Girls, French Dolls, Punches, Dutch Dolls, Toy Soldiers, Trumpeters, Drummers, Widows
Musical numbers
Act 1 ”Prologue” - Alan, Jane, Uncle Barnaby, Gonzorgo and Roderigo ”Don't Cry, Bo-Peep (Never Mind, Bo-Peep, We Will Find Your Sheep)” – Bo-Peep, Tom-Tom and Widow Piper's Children ”Floretta” – Alan and Chorus ”Mary Mary” – Chorus ”Barney O'Flynn” – Contrary Mary and Chorus ”I Can't Do the Sum” – Jane and Widow Piper's Children ”Go to Sleep, Slumber Deep” – Alan, Jane and Wood Spirits ”Birth Of The Butterfly” - Orchestra
Act 2 ”Christmas Fair Waltz: Hail to Christmas” – Chorus ”The Legend of the Castle” – Gertrude and Chorus ”Song of the Poet” (introducing "Rock-a-bye Baby") – Alan and Chorus ”March of the Toys” – Ensemble ”Military Ball” – Ensemble ”In The Toymakers Workshop” – Male Chorus ”Toyland” – Tom-Tom and Male Chorus ”My Rag Doll Girl” (Eccentric Dance) – Grumio and Jill ”Finale Act II” - Master Toymaker, Alan, Uncle Barnaby and Ensemble
Act 3 ”Hang March” - Orchestra ”An Old-Fashioned Rose” – Tom-Tom ”Before and After” – Alan and Contrary Mary ”Jane” – Jane, Grumio, Gonzorgo and Chorus ”Maybe the Moon Will Help You Out” – Bo-Peep
Cut Numbers (Chicago, 1903) ”With Downcast Eye” – Tom-Tom and Chorus ”The Men” – Contrary Mary ”The Healthfood Man” – Gonzorgo and Roderigo ”If I Were a Man Like That” – Gonzorgo, Roderigo, Widow Piper ”Mignonette” – Tom-Tom
Additional numbers composed 1904–1905 ”Beatrice Barefacts” – Contrary Mary and Inspector Marmaduke ”He Won't Be Happy Till He Gets It” – Jane, Grumio, Gonzorgo and Chorus ”Our Castle in Spain” – Tom-Tom ”Don't Be a Villain” – Gonzorgo and Roderigo
Plot synopsis 1903 version
Orphans Alan and Jane are the wards of their wicked Uncle Barnaby, who wants to steal their inheritance. He arranges with two sailors, Gonzorgo and Roderigo, for them to be shipwrecked and lost at sea, but they are rescued by gypsies and returned to Contrary Mary's garden. Contrary Mary, the eldest daughter of the Widow Piper, believing her beloved Alan is dead, has run away with her brother, Tom-Tom, rather than agree to marry Barnaby. After a second attempt on their lives, Alan and Jane are abandoned in the Forest of No Return. In the Spider's Den, they are protected by the Moth Queen. Meanwhile, Old Mother Hubbard's shoe is threatened with foreclosure by Barnaby.
Alan and Jane arrive in Toyland, where they find Contrary Mary and Tom-Tom and seek protection from the Master Toymaker, an evil genius who plots with Barnaby to create toys that kill and maim. The demonically possessed dolls turn on the Toymaker, killing him, and Barnaby uses the information to have Alan sentenced to death. Contrary Mary agrees to marry Barnaby in exchange for Alan's pardon, but after he marries her, Barnaby denounces Alan again. Barnaby dies after drinking a wine glass filled with poison meant for Alan. Tom-Tom reveals that an old law of Toyland permitting marriage between a widow and a condemned man on condition that he supports her may save Alan from the gallows. Alan is now free to marry Contrary Mary.
1970s version A new version, first produced in 1975 by the Light Opera of Manhattan with the support of the Victor Herbert Foundation,Program, East Side Playhouse, Light Opera of Manhattan, December 1975 is more sentimental than the original. Two unhappy children, Jane and Alan, run away from home. Their parents, who are always putting work and discipline before fun, are too busy for them, so the young siblings set out for a place where they will be understood. The children believe that Toyland, a magical land of spirited toys, will deliver them from their hardships. When they arrive, the kindly Toymaker welcomes them with open arms. He warns them not to become too caught up in the fantasy, but soon the toys of Toyland draw them in with their singing and dancing.
The busy parents must find a way to bring the young runaways back home. They send a private eye to search for their children, but this detective sees an opportunity for personal gain in his trip to Toyland; he forces Jane and Alan to help him steal the Toymaker's plans for a new marching toy soldier. When the parents arrive in Toyland via hot air balloon, they too fall under the spell of the mystical land. Arguments break out, toys are wounded, and Jane and Alan get lost and frightened in the dark woods outside of Toyland. As the parents and toys search for the children, the characters and audience alike discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Recordings Herbert's Victor Herbert Orchestra recorded selections from Babes in Toyland in 1911–1912 for the Victor Talking Machine Company as single releases, including "March of the Toys", "The Toymaker's Shop" and "The Military Ball". Decca Records recorded ten selections from the score (on five 10-inch 78-RPM records) in 1944. The recording featured Kenny Baker and Karen Kemple with a chorus and orchestra conducted by Alexander Smallens. This album was reissued on a 10-inch LP in 1949, and by reducing the selections from ten to six, Decca re-released it on one side of a 12-inch LP (The Red Mill was on the reverse) in 1957. Decca Broadway reissued the complete album on CD (again paired with The Red Mill) in 2002.1944 Studio Cast, re-issued on CD in 2002, Castalbums.org