Scroll down to view pictures of our 2011 production of Babes in Toyland

This production was newly adapted by Chicago Folks Operetta in 2011 from the original 1903 script and score. In keeping with our tradition of offering historically accurate and complete works of operetta, we performed the show in its entirety with the exception of the song The Legend of the Castle.    We decided to  retain all of the original characters, including Inspector Marmaduke and the original couples in the 1903 show (Mary - Alan and Tom-Jane).  This proved to be exceptionally challenging as we had to deal with the deaths of The Toymaker and Barnaby ( the original 1903 script they were both to meet their deaths by killer toys and poison).  While retaining their “evil ways” we decided to omit their deaths (bowing to the demands of contemporary audiences) by having the Toymaker be chased out of Toyland by the toy soldiers.  Barnaby found redemption by acknowledging his new found love for an age appropriate woman: The Widow Piper.  The show included many vocal highlights, and if you were lucky enough to see it you would have heard the following rarely performed songs:  Barney O’Flynn, Mignonette, Maybe the moon will help you out, Beatrice Barefacts, Before and After and the Bear and Spider duel (Spider Forest scene at the end of Act 2).   The production featured a 14-piece orchestra along with professional singers, actors and the 30 stars of our children’s operetta workshop.

Toymaker's Workshop: Alan and Mary