Good Lord! "Toyland" is Terrific!

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                                       For those, like your humble writer, previously unfamiliar with the Brick Theater Company (575 Metropolitan Avenue at the corner of Lorimer, in the newly-posh Brooklyn enclave of Williamsburg), it can wholeheartedly be shouted from the rooftops that New York's Off-Off-Broadway scene has a brand-new goldmine in the form of this lovely black box. More than this, however, is the hysterical brilliance that is the satirical Little Lord's Babes in Toyland, a mirthfully-mangled take on Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough's classic holiday operetta from 1903. This uproarious little masterpiece is adapted and directed by the cherubically-delicious Michael Levinton, who also stars in the dual roles of mean old miser Barnaby and his nephew Alan.

The basic storyline here remains the same as in the original; Mother Goose transports us to Storyland, in which such nursery rhyme characters come to life as Contrary Mary, Tom Tom the piper's son and the lonely Widow Piper (who, of course, lives in a shoe with the obligatory passel of children), as well as Little Bo Peep and her sheep, whose spokesman is an adorable hunk of mutton named Fleecy. A sentimental ruffian named Roderigo and his hard-hearted partner Gonzorgo are also part of the proceedings, as well as Linda, the Fairy Moth Queen, to guide us through the Spider Forest (where we also meet the Spirit of the Pine and the Spirit of the Maple) to Toyland. Once there, we encounter the Master Toymaker, Inspector Marmaduke, Antoinette the Toyland Doll, and of course Santa Claus himself. But this is no children's story; indeed, Levinton has masterfully skewered the action with a carefully chosen array of innuendos and adult references, and has also selected an ensemble of actors who embody it all to the utmost.

The easy standout among the cast is beautiful Das Elkin, a tremendous comic actress and singer who proves that great future stars of theatre can still be found in the most unlikely places, while portraying Bo Peep, Roderigo, the Spirit of the Maple and Antoinette. Corinne Donly comes in a close second in the roles of Tom Tom, the Spirit of the Pine, Gonzorgo and Inspector Marmaduke. Tina Shepard is suitably dark as Mother Goose, the Widow Piper, Linda, the Master Toymaker and jolly old St. Nick, and zaftig beauty Laura Von Holt is delightful as Mary. This is all interwoven by the simply delectable work of Nicholas Williams, as accompanist for the proceedings and a marvelous comic presence. The show even manages to attempt high-tech stagecraft, with a cartoon sequence to depict the Skeleton Dance and a veritable avalanche of toys spilling forth onto the stage. In addition, kudos must be given to Jason Simms as well as Levinton for the sets and props, the costumes by Karen Boyer and Bevan Dunbar and Christina Watanabe's wonderful lighting, with associate design by James E. Lawlor III. Producer Jane Jung and Associate Producer/Dramaturg Sarah Bishop Stone have also made wise choices with the selecetion of Dina Paola Rodriguez as stage manager and Lia Burrell as her assistant.

Little Lord's Babes in Toyland can best be described as that gift one finds under the tree on Christmas morning which, though completely unexpected, is the one that ends up being played with all day. Bravo to the Brick Theater Company not merely for going against the grain with a Yuletide chestnut, but making it a heavenly taste sensation.