Babes in Toyland

Babes in Toyland is an operetta with music composed by Victor Herbert, first staged in 1903 on Broadway and since becoming a perennial and often loosely adapted for other media, usually with new original songs added. The plot blended nursery rhyme characters with the story of two characters escaping from their cruel uncle Barnaby. In the original version, Barnaby's wards are old enough for the boy to be involved in the romantic subplot, and Toyland is a sinister place run by the evil Master Toymaker and his toys eventually murder him. The titular "Toyland" song and the instrumental piece "March of the Toys" have become the most enduring songs.
Subsequent adaptations shifted the focus beginning with the 1934 Laurel and Hardy movie Babes in Toyland (dropping the ward element while also introducing Santa Claus and thus first tying the story to Christmas) and TV and film versions where the Toymaker is a benevolent figure. The latter was adapted into stage versions from the 1970s onward.
==References==
* The seventh season Muppet Babies episode "Babes in Troyland" combined the operetta title with an allusion to Helen of Troy from Greek mythology, the episode's main theme.
* "Disney Holidays in Hollywood" (2023) includes a version of the song, sung in part by Kermit and Miss Piggy.
==Connections==
*Bil Baird provided and puppeteered marionettes for the 1954/1955 Max Liebman Presents TV versions
*Jim Belushi voiced Gonzorgo in the 1997 direct-to-video version
*Drew Barrymore played Lisa Piper in the 1986 TV movie
*Barbara Cook played Jane in the 1955 Max Liebman Presents TV version
*Randy Crenshaw voiced a singing candle in the 1997 direct-to-video version
*Dave Garroway played Santa Claus in the 1954/1955 Max Liebman Presents TV versions
*Will Glickman adapted the story for the 1954/1955 Max Liebman Presents TV versions
*Jack E. Leonard played Barnaby in the 1954/1955 Max Liebman Presents TV versions
*Mel Leven wrote new lyrics for the 1961 film version
*Pat Morita played the Toymaster in the 1986 TV movie
*Richard Mulligan played Barnaby in the 1986 TV movie
*Bronson Pinchot voiced Rodrigo in the 1997 direct-to-video version
*Raphael Sbarge voiced Tom in the 1997 direct-to-video version
*Shari Weiser played Trollog in the 1986 TV movie
*Jonathan Winters played Barnaby in an episode of The Shirley Temple Show (1960)
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Category:Stage References