Babes in the Wood | |
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Lyrics | Rick Besoyan |
Book | Rick Besoyan |
Basis | A Midsummer Night's Dream |
Premiere | December 28, 1964: Orpheum Theatre |
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]
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]
1964 Broadway[4] | |
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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 |
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]