Babes in Toyland cast photos are courtesy of Vivian Peterson
North Beach, MD — The Twin Beach Players Children’s Theatre Troupe is presenting a holiday production of Babes in Toyland weekends through December 14. The production by Sid Curl, president of the Twin Beach Players Board of Directors, is being performed at the theater located at the North Beach Boys and Girls Club, 9021 Dayton Avenue, in North Beach. Remaining shows are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12 general Admission. Contact www.twinbeachplayers.com for detailed ticket and performance information).
Babes in Toyland boasts a cast of over 70 area actors, and playwright Sid Curl and director Rob Heckart (who serves double-duty as the show’s Santa) should be commended for affording each individual actor and actress his or her own moment in the spotlight. Other commendable points must be mentioned regarding the stage presence and poise of this youthful cast, and the level of maturity and cooperation exhibited in bringing this story to life. Examples of the ensemble’s congenial camaraderie included actors discreetly and tactfully assisting one another whenever a minor memory slip occurred – which endeared the players to the audience.
On Opening Night, November 28, the audience was first welcomed to the theater by Santa and then subsequently welcomed into Toyland. We were introduced to Mother Goose (Jenny Liese) , and Mother Hubbard (Jennifer Tyler) who presented her daughter Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, Bo Peep, Jack (Micah Choplin)and Jill, the Muffets, Simple Simon (David Evans), Curly Locks, Little Boy Blue (Vincent Will), Polly Flinders (Abigail Petersen)and Georgy Porgy. She confessed that her rent was past due!
Bo Peep searched for her sheep with the Pied Piper; they are interrupted by Contrary Mary who is upset because the villain Barnaby (Justyn Christofel) wants to marry her as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard is bare and she is unable to pay her rent. Barnaby will happily accept Mary as his bride in lieu of the rent! Barnaby is temporarily thwarted by a pie in the face delivered by…no surprise here…Simple Simon!
The adventurous and spunky Roderigo and Gonzorgo, costumed in red and blue striped long-sleeved shirts and brothers of Contrary Mary, plan to ask the Toymaker for a loan. Curly Locks and Mary argue while Miss Muffet and Bo Peep both try to help Mary find a way out of her marriage to Barnaby; they must find a way to save Mother Hubbard’s shoe! The Pied Piper insists that all Mary needs to do in order to be happy is to find true love.
The cleverly-designed set unfolds to reveal shelves filled with toys in Santa’s workshop; the Master Toymaker is ordering the elves to work faster. The two brothers, who also are employed in the workshop, enter; be sure to listen for subtle nursery-rhyme jokes as this scene comes to a close.
Delancy Marmaduke, a puppet designer, (Sarah Rannacher in a “trouser” role) and his puppets meet Mary; he is entranced but she will not be charmed. The mischief-making brothers return and Delancy confesses that he wants to help save Mary’s home while Barnaby eavesdrops on the conversation. Delancy plans to make and sell his puppets to help pay Mother Hubbard’s debt; he is accompanied onstage by 5 adorable “puppets” who steal the scene without saying a word!
But now Barnaby approaches Simple Simon with a nefarious plan of his own.
The plot thickens further as we return to the Toyshop where the Master Toymaker has become even more irritated with the elves. Barnaby enters and tells the Toymaker of his plan to create and market his own line of puppets, circumventing the elves as well as Delancy. The Master Toymaker suggests her own plan to build and market “Horror Toys”.
Act I comes to an end as two rows of toy soldiers approach the stage through the audience – each row insisting the stage as rehearsal space belongs to them; they finally agree to collaborate, which makes the elves happy.
As Act II opens, Delancy and Simple Simon hatch a plan with the brothers to make nursery-rhyme character puppets. Bo Peep continues to search for her sheep, while Georgy Porgy playfully flirts with Polly, Miss Muffet, and Curly Locks.
Back at the Toyshop, Jack and Jill announce that Santa is returning from vacation, and the Horror Toys are released by Barnaby and the Master Toymaker. When Santa returns, Simple Simon fantasizes about big pies…lots of pies! It is learned that the Horror Toys have kidnapped Contrary Mary. Barnaby says she won’t be returned until she accepts his marriage proposal. Delancy and the toy soldiers enter to save the day by capturing the Master Toymaker (aka “Irvine”) and releasing Mary: Toyland is saved! Santa deports Barnaby and the Master Toymaker to the South Pole., and declares Mother Hubbard’s home to be mortgage-free. Delancy “un-contraries” Mary with his offer of marriage and now Mary is not so contrary anymore! Everyone is happy in Toyland once again.
All of the teen and adult leading and supporting roles are handled skillfully; those actors serve as outstanding role models for the younger thespians. Justyn Christofel (previously seen in TBP productions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow as Ichabod Crane, as well as The Mousetrap) gave credibility and self-assurance to his role of Barnaby. Sarah Rannacher displayed her vivacious personality as Delancy. Many roles are double-cast; following is a complete listing of all the players:
Jenny Liese as Mother Goose, Jennifer Tyler as Mother Hubbard, Victoria Mastando as Contrary Mary 1, Marianne Thayer as Contrary Mary 2, Tabitha Petersen as Bo Peep 1, Mia Sanborn as Bo Peep 2, Micah Choplin as Jack, Olivia Herrin as Jill 1, Ashley Beaudin as Jill 2, Gwen Grimes as Little Miss Muffet 1, Keely Starnes as Little Miss Muffet 2, David Evans as Simple Simon, Danielle Heckart as Curly Locks 1, Elizabeth Cullens as Curly Locks 2, Vincent Will as Little Boy Blue, Abby Petersen as Polly Flinders, Ian Tyler as Georgy Porgy 1, Don M. Schreffler III as Georgy Porgy 2, Braden Starnes as Tom Tom 1, Darren Largen as Tom Tom 2, Justyn Christofel as Barnaby, James Pike as Roderigo 1, Ariel Rastakhiz as Roderigo 2, Tyler Will as Gonzorgo 1, MJ Rastakhiz as Gonzorgo 1, Olivia McLung as Master Toymaker 1, Loral Kent as Master Toymaker 2, Sarah Rannacher as Delancy Marmaduke, and Rob Heckart as Santa.
Portraying toys were Eli Herrin, Ava Romero, Sofia Pereira, Victoria Schreffler, Marta Kaczmarck, Christian De Dios, Lucy De Dios, Layla Cortez, and Kate Jacobson. Sue Will was the Horrid Toy. The baaaashful sheep were played by Keilah Choplin, Alyssa Carroll, Cassidy Reeves, and Cameron Fisher. The Elves in Santa’s Toyshop were acted by Audrey Buckler, Laura Waybright, Autumn Harmon, Adriana Ciccone, Riva Will, and Merle Blair. The beautifully-costumed toy soldiers were Gabby De Dios, Alanah Cortez, Paige Plater, Leanne Pezzuti, Ana Reinhardt, Claire Tyler, Teya Fields, Carmen Mileo, Virginia Byrd, and Tay Largen.
The Production Crew included Director Rob Heckart, Assistant Directors Valerie Heckart and Viv Petersen, Producer Vivian Petersen, Technical Director/Lighting Designer Sid Curl, Set Designers Sid Curl and Valerie Heckart, State Manager Travis Lehnen, Stage Assistants Riley Nikolaus and Gwen Fisher, Music
Arranger/Performer Bob Snider, Costumer Dawn Denison, Sound Technician Caleb Petersen, Lighting Technician Melissia Nikolaus, Makeup Designer Holly Grimes, Publicity Designer Philomena Gorenflo, House Manager Sherry Lehnen and Vivian Petersen, and Advertising Manager Merle Blair. Set Construction was by Sid Curl, Rob Heckart, Valerie Heckart, Jim Weeks, and Justyn Christofel. Talented local artists known as the Davis Family Creations generously donated the amazing and creative toys for the set.
Kudos to all!
Twin Beach Players is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, predominantly performing in North Beach and in Chesapeake Beach, offering a host of opportunities to residents throughout the State of Maryland including its Statewide Annual Kids’ Playwriting Festival celebrating its 10th year of competition in the summer of 2015.
You may contact TBP at: www.twinbeachplayers.com, at www.facebook.com/twinbeachplayers. You may also call (410)286-1890 for more information or you may send email to twinbeachplayers2009@gmail.com.
