Babette (musical)
Babette is an operetta with a libretto by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert, which premiered on Broadway in 1903.[1]
Productions
The original production opened at the Broadway Theatre on November 16, 1903, and closed on January 9, 1904, after 59 performances. Frederick G. Latham directed, and John Lund was the music director.[2] The New York Times's reviewer stated of Fritzi Scheff in the title role: "As a comic opera singer she is one of the most brilliant figures that has appeared in New York for a long time; her voice never sounded so fresh and strong, her personality never seemed so dominating and full of vitality. ... The story is cumbersome, confused and ... free from comic spirit [or] wit. ... Herbert ... has written a charming score" and praised the rest of the company and the "handome" production.[3]
In 1976 Bel Canto Opera staged an off-Broadway revival of the show, which opened on May 21 and ran for four performances.[4]
Synopsis
In the 17th century, when Spain ruled Belgium, Babette, the letter-writer of a small Flemish village, foils a traitorous conspiracy to help the Spanish obtain the assistance of the King of France. Babette deceives the conspirators, inducing them to pose as strolling players, then she and a group of Flemish patriots change places with them. She then contrives to get the conspirators arrested by the Spanish, appropriating their coach and horses. The patriots travel to Versailles and seek help from the king in their efforts to gain freedom from the Spanish.
Songs
Act l
- Opening Chorus (Ensemble)
- My Honor and My Sword (Mondragon and Chorus)
- On the Other Side of The Wall (Mondragon and Vinetta)
- Entrance of Babette (Ensemble)
- Letter I Write all day (Letter-writing Song) (Babette)
- He Who’d Thrive (Clockmaker’s Song) (Van Tympel and Chorus)
- I’ll Bribe the Stars (Picture Painting Song) (Babette and Marcel)
- Finale I (Ensemble)
Act ll
- Opening Chorus Act II (Ensemble)
- Tony the Peddler (Mondragon and Chorus)
- Hear the Coachman Crack His Whip (Ensemble)
- We're Very Highly Polished at the Court (Baltazar and Vinetta)
- To the Sound of the Pipe and the Roll of the Drum (Babette, Vinetta, Eva and Chorus)
- On The Stage (Van Tymple)
- Be Kind to poor Pierrot (Babette)
- There once was an owl (Marcel, Vinetta, Eva, Mondragon, Katrina, Theresa)
- My Lady ‘Tis For Thee (Marcel)
- The Life of a Bold Free Lance (Captain Guzman and Chorus)
- Finale II (Ensemble)
Act lll
- Opening Chorus Act III (Ensemble)
- It’s A way we have in Spain (Van Tromp, Eva, Mondragon, Marcel and Chorus)
- My Lady of the Manor (Vinette, Eva, Marcel and Mondragon)
- Where the Fairest Flow’rs (Butterfly Waltz) (Babette)
- Finale III (Ensemble)[5]
Original cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Babette | Fritzi Scheff |
| Mondragon | Eugene Cowles |
| Eva | Josephine Bartlett |
| Katrina | Florence Belleville |
| Vinette | Ida Hawley |
| Marcel | Richie Ling |
| Van Tympel | Louis Harrison |
| Baltazar | Edward J. Connelly |
| Laurent | Gertrude Adams |
| Count de Courville | Arthur Blanchard |
| Jan | Frank Boyle |
| Henri | Rita Dean |
| The King of France | Erroll Dunbar |
| Margot | Rosa Earle |
| Captain Waither | Alfred S. Ely |
| Mlle. de Fontanges | Mildred Forest |
| Greta | Edna Luby |
| Teresa | Emily Montague |
| Joan | Adele Nott |
| Gaston | Helen Planchet |
| Jacque | Aline Redmond |
| Mlle. de Rohan | May Seeley |
| Schnapps | William Sissons |
| Guzman | Madison Smith |
| Coachman | J. T. Chaillee |
| A Court Lady | Mary Smith |
| Footman | Charles Emerson |
| Duc de St. Michel | Henry Wilkinson |
| Marquis de Villette | George Williamson |
| Mlle. de la Motte | Bertha 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.[6]
References
- ^ "Babette - 1903 Broadway - Creative Team". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "Babette", Internet Broadway database. Retrieved October 24, 2025
- ^ "Fritzi Scheff as Babette; A New Comic Opera by Herbert and Smith. The ex-Grand Opera Singer Makes a Brilliant Success.", The New York Times, November 17, 1903
- ^ Ericson, Raymond (1976-05-23). "Opera: Rare Herbert by the Bel Canto". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ "MORE ON BABETTE". Comic Opera Guild. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ^ 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.
External links
- Information and MIDI files for Babette at The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
- Score at IMSLP
- Selections from the score, player piano via YouTube