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In reviewing the 1909 Melbourne premiere, the Age records that this version of The Babes in the Wood had 'a decidedly Australian flavour' (28 December 1909, p.6). The chief characters include the two children, Jack (the miller's son), Maria (the children's governess), the two robbers (described as 'a robber bold and a robber bolder'), Baron Steakanchips, Phyllis (the baron's daughter), the Demon King, and Titania (the Fairy Queen). The cast, as advertised in the West Australian, included some 250 people, playing such characters as goblins, fairies, bathers, sailors, imps, demons, birds, huntsmen, sprites, will-o-the-wisps, and giants.
The Argus also reports that the prologue, 'a story in itself', takes place in
'a veritable palace of mammoth toys, in which soldiers, teddy bears, Noah's Arks, golly-wogs and storybooks figure prominently. Santa Claus [also] arrives in his aeroplane amongst the wondering youngsters who are thinking out the pantomime they would like. The magic book opens and shows them successively Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Sinbad and last, The Babes in the Wood, which the youngsters acclaim with glee in a song and dance "The Baby Park Parade." The pantomime proper then begins in the icy regions around the North Pole where the Demon King lives' (28 December 1909, p.7).
Songs known to have been incorporated into the narrative included 'Australia's Got a Navy of Her Own', 'Ship Ahoy', 'The Silvery Moon', and 'Banish Sorrow' (sung by Lilian Lea); 'By the Blue Lagoon' (Lilian Lea and Alice Bennetto); 'What, What, What' (James Foreman and Peter Fannan); 'The Grand Hotel', 'Vodka Be Mine', and 'When Mr Poverty Comes Knocking at Your Door' (Nat Clifford); 'Bottle O' and 'Up in an Aeroplane' (Jack Hagan); 'Policeman Moon' (Alice Bennetto); 'Oh Ah Oh Ah' (Nat Clifford and George Dean); and a song sung to the final tableaux, 'Australia's Pride' (James Hughes).
The spectacular highlights of the production are said to have been 'The Baby Park Parade', 'The Fairy Picture Book', 'The Iceberg of the Fairy Queen', 'The Children's Palace of Toys', 'The Big Hat Parade', 'Australia's Navy', 'The Burlesque Fight of the Robbers', and 'Revels at the Seaside.' Miss Margaret Kloss also performed a dance to the ballet 'Vision of Salome Waltz.'
Notes
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A comprehensive listing of songs was published by Albert's in the 12 March edition of the West Australian (p.1).
Production Details
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1909: Kings Theatre, Melbourne, 27 December 1909 - 9 February 1910.
- Director John Wallace; Producer William Anderson; Music Director/Conductor Henry Hawkins; Chorus Maud Cosham; Scenic Art Rege Robbins and John Ricketts.
- Cast incl. Lilian Lea (Jack), Nat Clifford (Maria), George Dean (Baron Steakanchips), Jack Hagan (Simple Simon), Alice Bennetto (Phyllis), Levinia Clinton (Titania), Elsie May, James Hughes (Demon King), Olive Robinson (Milk Maid), Bertha Gordon (Regie, a Babe) and Dorothy Leigh (Rosie, a Babe), James Foreman (Snatchem) and Peter Fannan (Catchem), Heller and Walhalla (Strawberry, a frisky cow), the Lentons, Margaret Kloss, Wilton Power (Santa Claus), Maud Cosham (Rudolph, Jack's friend).
1910: Adelaide, ca. February (return season: beginning 16 April).
- Cast and production mostly as for Melbourne season.
1910: Western Australian tour, beginning 5 March.
- Cast and production mostly as for Melbourne and Adelaide seasons.
- Actors identified in West Australian advertising/reviews but not identified in the Melbourne season are Marshall Palmer (Lightning, the baron's Chief of Staff), W. Driscoll (Grist, a miller), and Ed Fairfax (Perks, a farmer).
- Tour itinerary incl. Her Majesty's Theatre, Perth, 5-19 March ; Kalgoorlie, ca. Easter ; King's Theatre, Fremantle, 6-8 April.
1910: Newcastle (NSW), ca. April/May.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Leave No Trace
2019
single work
essay
— Appears in: The Believer , 1 April no. 124 2019; -
William Anderson's Pantomime : 'Babes in the Wood'
1910
single work
review
— Appears in: West Australian , 7 March 1910; (p. 5)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
'Babes in the Wood'
1910
single work
review
— Appears in: West Australian , 26 February 1910; (p. 8)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
King's Theatre - 'Babes in the Wood'
1909
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 28 December 1909; (p. 7)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
King's Theatre Pantomime : 'The Babes in the Wood'
1909
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 28 December 1909; (p. 6)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre
-
King's Theatre Pantomime : 'The Babes in the Wood'
1909
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 28 December 1909; (p. 6)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
'Babes in the Wood'
1910
single work
review
— Appears in: West Australian , 26 February 1910; (p. 8)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
William Anderson's Pantomime : 'Babes in the Wood'
1910
single work
review
— Appears in: West Australian , 7 March 1910; (p. 5)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
King's Theatre - 'Babes in the Wood'
1909
single work
review
— Appears in: The Argus , 28 December 1909; (p. 7)
— Review of The Babes in the Wood 1909 single work musical theatre -
Leave No Trace
2019
single work
essay
— Appears in: The Believer , 1 April no. 124 2019;