Our heritage

Babes in Arms (1988)

Music by Richard Rodgers;
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart;
Book by George Oppenheimer

Babes in Arms was the first Broadway musical to ever be performed at the Open Air Theatre. It was directed by then Artistic Director, Ian Talbot, and starred Jessica Martin in the role of Bunny Byron.
Babes in Arms (1988)
Photo: Alastair Muir

The cast

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Programmes and Marketing

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Reviews

The Guardian

"Such gusto is often breathtakingly misplaced in British hands; here it achieves a sublime exaggeration which communicates itself rather like in the best pantomimes until the audience heaves wiht pleasure."

Sunday Times

"It is both warm-hearted and sophisticated; and a young cast, all but one of them British, and most of them playing Shakespeare this season, put it across with precisely pitched youthful zest, infectious humour and good American accents."

The Stage

"it provides a joyous summer evening's entertainment in the hands of the lively young company which has been playing Shakespeare up to now."

The London Evening Standard

"Jessica Martin is pert and saucy as she delivers The Lady is a Tramp, Jane Arden brings a provocative gusto to the girl with Carmen Miranda ambitions and Debra McCuloch emerges as a sexy swan from duckling beginning" "Cliff Howells is outrageous, but funny, as a preposterous playwright."

Arts Review

"Ian Talbot make imaginative use of the entire auditorium as well as the stage and only Kenn Oldfield's dances seem a bit cramped by the size of the stage. No matter. I welcome Babes In Arms with open arms!"

Awards

Musical of the Year

Olivier Award: Nominated

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