Ridgedale Players presents ‘Babes in Toyland’ musical

TROY — Community members may enjoy a “Babes in Toyland” musical from the junior actors of the Ridgedale Players during the 2024 holiday season.

“Babes in Toyland” is a romantic comedy show with music by Victor Herbert and book/lyrics by Glen MacDonough that features some well-known characters and themes from the Mother Goose nursery rhymes. 

The story follows the couple Mistress Mary Quite Contrary and Alan, who are trying to escape Alan’s uncle Barnaby. 

Barnaby is determined to marry Mistress Mary to the point he is willing to threaten her mother, Widow Piper, with foreclosure on her house and try to get rid of Alan with the help of some ruffians he’s hired. This leads the couple to run through different parts of Mother Goose Land and Toyland to escape Barnaby’s clutches.

This production’s show director, Peggy Miller-Zelinko, has been with the Ridgedale Players for 25 years and has likely been involved with over 60 shows.

“It’s a very old story that was resurrected as a play,” Miller-Zelinko said. “The kids really liked it. We have 35 kids and started rehearsing in October. The kids are also learning lighting, sound, costumes, makeup, and hair and the parents are involved.”

The show features the talents of the different youth performers. Many of these young actors have been involved in other shows inside and outside of the Ridgedale Players, though some actors have not been in a show before.

Maria Xydas is playing Mistress Mary in this production and has been involved in other productions like “Willy Wonka” and “Honk! Jr.” and is planning to audition for the Ridgedale Players’ production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” later in the season.

“This is my first time working with Peggy,” Xydas said. “I haven’t played a character with this personality and I like that. A lot of my family is coming to see it.”

For Simran Mohan, who plays Widow Piper, this is her first show.

“I like singing, pretending, acting, and dressing up at home,” Mohan said. “In the show I play the mother of 14 children who’s trying to protect kids from Barnaby and trying to pay the mortgage.”

Max Steiger plays Barnaby and has done four shows with Ridgedale and a few shows with Stagecrafters in Royal Oak.

“I decided I should go out for a bigger role and this was a really good spot to get a role,” Steiger said. “It’s fun to play a cartoonishly evil (character), someone who is not who I am and lets me think.”

Carter Phillips, who plays Alan, has been involved with five shows with the Ridgedale Players.

“Alan knows he’s cool,” Phillips said. “He’s a determined person who’s kind and a little dumb.”

“Babes in Toyland” will be playing at 205 W. Long Lake Road from Dec. 13 to 15. Showtimes will be going on at 7 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Audience members may also expect ice cream to be served during intermission and a visit with Santa Claus during the show dates.

For more information on show dates and tickets, visit ridgedaleplayers.com.