‘Babes’ for Babes: Play Delights the Young

“It’s better than ‘Nutcracker.’ ” That was one 5-year-old’s unsolicited observation during the “Babes in Toyland” intermission Saturday at El Camino College’s Marsee Auditorium.

It was the first of four Southland stops for Troupe America’s touring holiday production of the Victor Herbert operetta.

Whether the pint-sized critic’s assessment was based on the merits of this Mother Goose musical or on the deficiencies of a “Nutcracker” in her recent experience is unknown. But pleasing very young children is the aim of this colorful show. (Adults may find the mild comedy, one-dimensional characters and obvious messages somewhat bland.)

In this version, with book by William Mount-Burke and lyricist Alice Hammerstein Mathias and orchestrations by Stan German, siblings Alan and Jane (Mike Hobot and Jennifer Cooper) have run away from home to avoid the rigid rules of their Victorian papa, Clarence (Jonathan Peterson).

In Toyland, they find a sympathetic Toymaker (Kenton Holden) and his creations Billy Bear (Joseph Hamilton), Lily the doll (Valeria Lari) and a pair of mice named This and That (Gwen Linden-Bruzek and Jerry Bruzek).

Meanwhile, bad guy Peter Pinkerton (Paul Reyburn, a tame villain) is plotting to take over Clarence’s factory to make big bucks with the Toymaker’s designs.

At the happy ending--a Christmas song and the familiar “Toyland” finale--Clarence and his wife, Delphinia (Roxann Hogan), realize that “It’s Fun to Feel We’re Young Again,” Clarence has become a loving parent and Pinkerton is wearing a good-guy hat (his old one had an evil spell on it).

Musically, Cooper’s is the strongest operatic presence, Hogan brings a pretty 19th century flavor to her solos and Peterson weights his performance with solid vocals. The sound of the small orchestra, with musical direction by David Frank and Terry Hanson, is big and sprightly, and the hit of the show is “The March of the Toys,” choreographed by director Randy Winkler.

What gets old very quickly is something no adult actor should be allowed to do in a children’s show: play a child by speaking in a baby-like voice, as Hobot does.

The show’s modest bus-and-truck nature is evident, but designer Kevin Noteboom has done a nice job with imaginatively painted angled set pieces that look like storybook watercolors. Lynn Farrington designed the eye-pleasing costumes, based on a concept by Anne Ruben; masks are by Henry Gomez; and the expressive lighting design is by Scott Herbst.

* “Babes in Toyland,” McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, Wednesday, 7 p.m., $15-$25, (619) 340-ARTS, (619) 220-TIXS; San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive, Friday, 7:30 p.m., $7.50-$25, (818) 308-2868; Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd., Saturday, 8 p.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m., $16-$26, (805) 723-5950.