Babes in the Wood (musical)

Babes in the Wood is a 1964 Off-Broadway musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.[1] The show's book and lyrics are by Rick Besoyan.[1] It opened on December 28, 1964, at the Orpheum Theatre and closed on February 7, 1965.[2]

Babes in the Wood
LyricsRick Besoyan
BookRick Besoyan
BasisA Midsummer Night's Dream
PremiereDecember 28, 1964: Orpheum Theatre

Production

In addition to writing the show, Besoyan also directed the production, with musical direction by Natalie Charlson. Sandy Farber and Aaron Schroeder produced the show. Ralph Beaumont provided choreography, and set design and lighting were done by Paul Morrison. Howard Barker designed the show's costumes.[3]

Songs

Act l
  • This State of Affairs (Oberon, Robin Goodfellow)
  • Titania's Philosophy (Titania)
  • A Lover Waits (Oberon)
  • The Gossip Song (Helena)
  • I'm Not for You (Demetrius)
  • I'm Not for You (Reprise) (Helena, Demetrius)
  • Mother (Bottom)
  • Old Fashioned Girl (Bottom, Goodfellow)
  • Love Is Lovely (Lysander, Hermia)
  • Babes in the Wood (Goodfellow)
  • Love Is Lovely (Reprise) (Lysander, Helena)
  • Finale (Company)[3]

Act ll
  • Opening (Company)
  • Anyone Can Make a Mistake (Goodfellow)
  • Cavorting (Titania, Bottom)
  • There's a Girl (Oberon, Demetrius)
  • There's a Girl (reprise) (Demetrius)
  • I'm Not for You (reprise) (Lysander)
  • Little Tear (Hermia)
  • Babes in the Wood (reprise) (Goodfellow)
  • Helena's Solution (Helena, Lysander, Demetrius)
  • Helena (Demetrius, Lysander)
  • Midsummer Night (Oberon, Titania)
  • Moon Madness (Titania, Bottom)
  • A Lover Waits (reprise) (Oberon)
  • The Alphabet Song (Titania, Hermia, Helena)
  • FInale (Company)[3]

Cast
1964 Broadway[4]
Helena Ruth Buzzi
Demetrius Danny Carroll
Hermia Joleen Fodor
Titania Carol Glade
Oberon Richard Charles Hoh
Bottom Kenneth McMilan
An Addition Edward Miller
Lysander Don Stewart
Robin Goodfellow Elmarie Wendel

Reception

The New York Times criticized the show, saying it "manages to rob his source of all enchantment", and although its music was enjoyable, the songs added nothing to the plot.[5] The view of the musical as "pleasant but forgettable" seems to have been shared by other theater critics as well.[6]

References
  1. "Babes in the Wood - 1964 Off-Broadway - Creative Team". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  2. "Babes in the Wood - 1964 Off-Broadway - Backstage & Production Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  3. Dietz, Dan (2010). Off Broadway musicals, 1910-2007 : casts, credits, songs, critical reception and performance data of more than 1,800 shows. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7864-5731-1. OCLC 607553553.
  4. "Babes in the Wood Original Off-Broadway Musical Cast 1964 | Off-Broadway World". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  5. "The Theater: A Lampoon; Rick Besoyan's Babes in the Wood' Opens". The New York Times. 1964-12-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  6. Hischak, Thomas S. (2011). Off-Broadway musicals since 1919 : from Greenwich Village follies to The toxic avenger. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-8108-7772-6. OCLC 1136298069.
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