Babette (musical)

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Babette is a Broadway operetta with a libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert, which premiered in 1903. [1]

Contents

Productions

The original production opened at the Broadway Theatre on November 16, 1903, and closed on January 9, 1904, after 59 performances. [2]

In 1976 Bel Canto Opera staged an off-Broadway revival of the show, which opened on May 21 and ran for four performances. [2] [3] [4]

Synopsis

Babette, the letter-writer of a small Flemish village, travels with a group of Flemish patriots to Versailles to seek help from the French king in their desire for freedom from the Spanish. [4]

Songs

Act l

Act ll

Act lll

Cast

1903 Broadway [6] 1976 Revival [4]
Babette Fritzi Scheff Elizabeth King
Mondragon Eugene Cowles Mark Munkittrick
EvaJosephine BartlettJanet Wagner
KatrinaFlorence Belleville
Vinette Ida Hawley Peggy Hewett
MarcelRichie LingDaniel Mele
Van TympelLouis HarrisonDavid L. Scatter
BaltazarEdward J. ConnellyBlaine Brown
LaurentGertrude Adams
Count de CourvilleArthur Blanchard
JanFrank Boyle
HenriRita Dean
The King of FranceErroll Dunbar
MargotRosa Earle
Captain WaitherAlfred S. Ely
Mlle. de FontangesMildred Forest
Greta Edna Luby
TeresaEmily Montague
JoanAdele Nott
GastonHelen Planchet
JacqueAline Redmond
Mlle. de RohanMay Seeley
SchnappsWilliam Sissons
GuzmanMadison Smith
CoachmanJ. T. Chaillee
A Court LadyMary Smith
FootmanCharles Emerson
Duc de St. MichelHenry Wilkinson
Marquis de VilletteGeorge Williamson
Mlle. de la MotteBertha Willoughby

Reception

The 1903 production received positive reviews for Scheff in the lead role and Herbert's music, but generally negative reviews for the show's book. [7]

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References

  1. "Babette - 1903 Broadway - Creative Team". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  2. 1 2 "Babette - 1903 Broadway - Backstage & Production Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  3. "Babette - 1976 Off-Broadway - Backstage & Production Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  4. 1 2 3 Ericson, Raymond (1976-05-23). "Opera: Rare Herbert by the Bel Canto". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  5. "MORE ON BABETTE". Comic Opera Guild. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  6. "Babette Original Broadway Musical Cast 1903". Broadway World. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  7. Bordman, Gerald Martin (2010). American musical theatre : a chronicle. Richard Norton (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 230. ISBN   978-0-19-972970-8. OCLC   656556582.