Strictly speaking, First Stage Theatre’s “Babes in Toyland” isn’t really a Christmas show - it contains no direct references to the holiday at all. However, watching it will put you in the holiday spirit. That’s because the show evokes the magic and wonder of childhood.
It tells the story of a family made up of characters from Mother Goose stories - Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, Little Bo Peep, Jack and Jill, Little Boy Blue, Little Red Riding Hood - well, you get the idea. They’re all being threatened by the bad guy, Barnaby, who wants to marry Mary - but Mary’s in love with Barnaby’s nephew, Alan, who survives more than one attempt on his life by a couple of bumbling henchmen, and the whole gang survives a trip through the Spider Forest and finds themselves at Toyland, where magical things happen. (Whew!)
This is a show that really is aimed at the young - and (if you’ll pardon the cliché) the young at heart. It’s funny and sweet and endearing all at the same time. The cast combines some veterans of the children’s theatre with some new faces and creates a show that’s a lot of fun, with several sweet songs and lots of high-spirited choreography.
Special kudos to: Brittany Hazeldine, who is perfect as Mary (her expressions are priceless and her singing is tremendous); Sam Yates, who has a great time chewing up the scenery as the evil Barnaby (and he sports an amazing mustache); Elijah Boyles, who’s a relative newcomer to the stage, but does a great job as the hero of the show; Hilary Rousch and Alissa Fetherolf are hilarious as the bumbling henchmen; Lauren Cundiff has some great scenes as the Widow Piper (who’s easily confused); and Tom Hastie, the show’s only “grownup,” is obviously having great fun playing the Toymaker.
I certainly don’t mean to slight anyone else in the cast - they’re wonderful, and theatre is a team effort - it takes everyone doing their part to being a show together, and the cast is excellent, whether singing, dancing, telling jokes, staging bits of business or just delivering their lines. The show proves that the future is bright for First Stage.
If you want a refresher course in the magic of childhood, check out “Babes in Toyland.” You’ll find yourself watching with a big smile on your face - and if you have any little ones around, take them and enjoy watching them smile, too.
3 comments:
After watching opening night, this is a must see for the tri-state!
i have to say i was pretty fond of the sets too, partially built by our own Chuck Minsker.
Ha! The credit for the sets belongs to Jack Welch (whose saw I am not worthy to hold), some guy named Stephen, Amy Browning and all the parents and cast members who worked hard to create them. I helped a little, but they're the ones who did the heavy lifting - not me.
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