Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland (1903), a musical extravaganza by Glen MacDonough (book, lyrics), Victor Herbert (music). [Majestic Theatre, 192 perf.] When the children Jane (Mabel Barrison) and Alan (William Norris) are shipwrecked through the machinations of their wicked Uncle Barnaby (George W. Denham), they find themselves in Toyland. Barnaby pursues them there, and, while courting Contrary Mary, contrives with the equally wicked Toymaker (Dore Davidson) to do away with them. But all his nefarious plots are foiled with the help of Mary, Jack and Jill, Bo Peep, the Widow Piper and her son Tom Tom, and a host of other Mother Goose figures, as well as by tree spirits, fairies, life‐sized dolls, and talking flowers. In the end Barnaby is brought to justice in Toyland's court. Notable songs: I Can't Do the Sum; March of the Toys; Toyland. At a time when most musicals had only a few sets, the Fred Hamlin–Julian Mitchell production (directed and choreographed by Mitchell) was exceptionally lavish. Among the settings were Barnaby's farm, the spectacle of the shipwreck, Mary's garden, the Spider's forest, the floral palace of the Moth Queen, the Toymaker's workshop (filled with giant toys), and the Toyland Palace of Justice. The Dramatic Mirror exclaimed of the show, “It will prove a perfect dream of delight to the children, and will recall the happy days of childhood to those who are facing the stern realities of life.” Of Herbert's music, Henry Finck wrote in the Evening Post, “Every bar is melodious, while some of the incidental and melodramatic music betrays Mr. Herbert's position among the leading American composers.” The musical was revived frequently for decades.

Babes in Toyland, a 1903 Broadway musical extravaganza by Glen MacDonough (lyrics/libretto) and Victor Herbert (music) about two children, set adrift by a wicked uncle, who are shipwrecked in a magical Toyland that is filled with Mother Goose characters. The spectacular show featured such familiar figures as Little Bo‐Peep, Jack and Jill, Contrary Mary, and the piper's son Tom Tom, as well as such musical favourites as ‘Toyland’ and ‘March of the Toys’. The tale has been revived on stage and filmed often.

— Thomas S. Hischak