Based on the traditional and popular pantomime story, this Alf J. Lawrance adaptation similarly inserts popular characters from the Robin Hood legend into the tale of the two 'babes' kidnapped by ruffians on the orders of their wicked uncle.
Of the thirty songs and dances in the show, at least nine were written by Lawrance: 'Follow Me Boys' and 'It's the Allies' (originally sung by Dorothy Harris); 'Boys of the Expedition' (Lola Hunt); the topical trio 'Mum's The Word', 'Dance of the Robins' (ballet), and 'I Can't Do that Sum' (Marjory Daw's schoolroom number, originally sung by Ettie Waldron); and 'I Don't Care', 'Anyone Could See She was a Lady' and 'Pull for the Shore' (all performed by Daisy Jerome).
Two of the non-Lawrance songs incorporated into the pantomime were 'Give Me a Piggyback' (sung by the Babes) and 'Always Take a Girl Named Daisy' (Daisy Jerome).
The Argus theatre critic wrote of the revised 1915 Melbourne season at the Princess's Theatre that 'The ballets and choruses were bright and attractive, and the mingling of popular ragtime airs with the usual musical numbers was a novelty that appealed to the audience' (23 August 1915, p.13). It is unclear as to how many, if any, song changes were made for the short Bijou engagement that followed the Princess's season, and thus the following (mentioned in the Bijou reviews) may or may not have been included in the earlier production: 'I Do Believe I'm in Love' and 'I Followed Her Here' (Carrie Moore) and 'Rose of Italy' (Ray de Vere).
Staged in two acts, the pantomime involved the following scenes:
Act 1: Scene 1 The Babes Nursery;
Scene 2: Village Of Sherwood;
Scene 3 Baron Hardup's Baronial Hall;
Scene 4 On the Sands at Coogee;
Scene 5 Floating in the Briny;
Scene 6 Woodland Glade Finale;
Scene 7 The Escapade.
Act 2: Scene 1 Dame Durden's School-Room;
Scene 2 Dingle Dell;
Scene 3 Jeromeland;
Scene 4 The Baron's Banqueting Hall;
Scene 5 On the Banks of the Missouri;
Scene 6 The Throne Room in the King's Palace.
The specialties staged were as follows: Bathing Girls; The Dream Boat; The Leaf Ballet; Tipperary March; The Ghost of the Violin; The Expeditionary Force; Allies March; Flag Tableaux; The Great International Military Scenes ('The Rock - 1815' and 'The Rock 1915'); The Grand Concluding Spectacle ('1916 - Peace, Prosperity and Plenty').
1914: Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, 23 December 1914 - 12 February 1915.
1915: Newcastle, NSW, 13-19 February.
1915: Regional tour, Queensland, beginning 8 March.
1915: New Zealand tour, 25 March - 22 May (ten weeks).
1915: Adelaide, South Australia, ca. May-June.
1915: Victorian regional tour, ca. July-August.
1915: Tasmanian tour, ca. July-August.
1915: Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, 21 August - 10 September.
1915: Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, 11-17 September.