The Frogs (musical)
The Frogs | |
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Basis | The Frogs by Aristophanes |
Productions | 1974 Yale University 1988 Chicago 2004 Broadway 2007 Pittsburgh 2007 Truman College 2011 St. Petersburg, Florida 2014 Anglia Ruskin University 2015 Sydney 2017 West End |
The Frogs is a
competes with Shaw for the title of best playwright, which he wins. Dionysos brings Shakespeare back to the world of the living in the hope that art can save civilization.The musical was originally performed in Yale University's gymnasium's swimming pool in 1974.[1] The show was produced on Broadway in 2004 with the book revised by Nathan Lane and the score expanded by Sondheim. This version was revived in London in 2017.
Background
Shevelove first wrote and directed an adaptation of The Frogs in 1971, while he was a graduate student at
Production history
Yale University
The Frogs was performed by the Yale Repertory Theatre in the Yale swimming pool, opening on May 21, 1974, for 8 performances. Shevelove directed, with choreography by Carmen de Lavallade;
Regional and UK productions
A regional production opened in January 1975, but drew little interest.[6] In 1984, the University Theatre in New York City staged a production of The Frogs, beginning on April 12, 1984.[7]
A production at the Old Brentford Baths in London opened on July 24, 1990, for a short run. The cast featured Richard Zajdlic as Dionysos and Bob Husson as Xanthias, with choreography by Ron Howell and direction by John Gardyne.[8] In October 1991, the first production in an Olympic sized pool took place in Coventry. It ran for four performances. Produced by Keith Taylor and directed by Keith Taylor and Clare Walters, the cast included Anthony Cable, Verona Chard, Bernard Tagliavini and Raymond Sargent.
By 1979, Nathan Lane had become interested in the piece. He "found a copy of the script at the Drama Book Shop and was very intrigued by it".[9] On May 22, 2000, Lane, with Davis Gaines and Brian Stokes Mitchell, performed a concert version of The Frogs at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.[8]
2004 Broadway revival
Shortly after performing in the concert adaptation, Lane began revising and expanding the show's book into a two-act structure typical of American musicals; the first act was expanded, the second condensed. Lane explained what drew him to expand The Frogs: "after September 11 ... I started to think, there's something in this piece right now. ... There's something idealistic about the notion of someone believing that the arts can make a difference. ... I found it moving, in light of what is going on in the world." The new book included indirect references to George W. Bush and the Iraq War.[2]
For the new production, Sondheim wrote seven new songs, including ones that focused on individual characters rather than an ensemble. The
It opened to a mixed critical reception. Most complained that Lane's new plot was "loose", while others noted that the mix of low-brow comedy and high ideals seemed at odds, although others noted that this was what Aristophanes had done. The production closed on October 10, 2004, after 92 performances.[11] The revival was nominated for three Drama League Awards: Distinguished Production of a Musical (Lincoln Center Theater) and Distinguished performance (Nathan Lane and Roger Bart).[12]
Subsequent productions
The Frogs was produced by the Pegasus Players in
On February 3, 2011, a production by the FreeFall Theatre opened at their venue in St. Petersburg, Florida. Directed by Eric Davis, the cast included Jorge Acosta, Dick Baker, and Joel Martin. That run ended on February 20, 2011.
In January 2014, Anglia Ruskin University presented a showing of The Frogs at the Mumford Theatre in Cambridge, UK. It played for two nights on the 17th and 18 January, featuring Tariq Daniels as Dionysos, Gemma Dixon as Xanthias, Keegan Featherstone as Hades and Jade Copeman as Ariadne.
The musical was revived on March 19, 2017, for a limited run at London's Jermyn Street Theatre playing until April 8, 2017. It was directed by Grace Wessels and starred Michael Matus as Dionysos and George Rae as Xanthias.[23]
The MasterVoices chorus, under the direction of artistic director Ted Sperling, presented a production of The Frogs at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Friday, November 3, and Saturday, November 4, 2023. The cast included Douglas Sills, Kevin Chamberlin, Marc Kudisch, Chuck Cooper, Peter Bartlett, Dylan Baker, Jordan Donica, Candice Corbin, and Nathan Lane. [24]
Synopsis
Act I
The show opens with two "actors," played by the same actors as the main characters of the play but considered different in the libretto, discussing which play they should perform. One actor suggests "the one about the man who kills his father and sleeps with his mother", but the other actor is in too good a mood for tragedy and they decide to perform a comedy instead. However, before they can perform, they must make an invocation: dedicating the performance to the theatre gods, and instructing the audience how to behave ("Invocation and Instructions to the Audience"). Just as they are about to further delay the action, the Chorus enters demanding the actors begin.
The Actors return as
The pair travel to the Styx ("I Love to Travel (Reprise)"), where they meet the severely
Later that night, Dionysos is awoken by a cry of "brek-ek-ek-ek!" He soon works out that the Frogs have come; they drag him out of the boat and tempt him into a life of frogdom, hopping around without any cares or worries ("The Frogs"). Although Dionysos is briefly rescued by Xanthias, the Frogs return while Xanthias is distracted, and drag Dionysos back into the water.
Act II
Dionysos climbs back on the boat drenched and covered with weeds, still quivering from his horrible confrontation with the frogs. Undaunted, Charon steers them to the dock, where Dionysos and Xanthias disembark. They run into Dionysian worshipers ("Hymn to Dionysos"), but Xanthias reminds Dionysos of their mission, and they continue to the Palace of Pluto.
At the height of all the confusion, Pluto enters, surrounded by the flames of Hades. Dionysos sheds his Heracles disguise, and Pluto welcomes the god with open arms, disabusing him of the misconception that Hades is a dangerous place ("Hades").
Dionysos tells Pluto of his plan to bring Shaw back to earth, and Pluto reveals that all the dead playwrights are banqueting at his palace at that very moment. As Pluto and Dionysos discuss the dire situation on Earth, the
Following the banquet, Dionysos bursts out of the palace to proclaim the entrance of George Bernard Shaw and his loyal passel of Shavians ("Shaw"). When William Shakespeare emerges from the palace, the philosophical tension between the two titans escalates swiftly until they almost come to blows. Dionysos defuses the situation by declaring a contest between the two playwrights. Each will address the important issues of humanity using only the words of his own writings.
The supporters of Shaw and Shakespeare assemble into an arena where the verbal battle begins. Dionysos, high in his referee's chair, calls out the topics: first woman, then man, then the Life Force. Shaw and Shakespeare are sharp in their responses, Shaw delivering his pointed orations and Shakespeare responding with his poetic imagery. Grappling for a final topic (and concerned whether the people of earth will accept Shaw's rigorous social views), Dionysos calls a time-out. His deceased wife Ariadne appears, comforting her husband and advising him to follow his heart. Looking lovingly into his eyes, Ariadne assures Dionysos that the final topic is "staring you in the face".
The contest resumes, and Dionysos announces the final topic: Death. Shaw responds with a stirring passage from Saint Joan, and the crowd is hushed. Then Shakespeare speaks of death from an old man's point of view ("The Contest"). Dionysos, wanting to hear more asks him to speak of a young man's feelings. Shakespeare's response is the song ("Fear No More") from Cymbeline. The powerful poetry moves Dionysos to declare Shakespeare the winner and offer him passage to the world of the living. A disgruntled Shaw is dragged kicking and screaming from the stage as Charon the boatman announces the return trip ("All Aboard").
Xanthias, who has elected to remain in Hades with the Amazon Virilla, bids his master farewell, as the voices of Ariadne and the chorus accompany Dionysos home ("Hymn to Dionysos (Reprise)"). Dionysos and Shakespeare arrive back at the same theatre that the actors were at in the beginning. Dionyus beckons Shakespeare to speak, and the playwright responds by calling for a new play to be written to inspire humanity. As the entire company is revealed, Dionysos steps forward and addresses the audience. He urges us to shake off lethargy, to take action to resolve the earthly problems that plague our times ("Final Instructions to the Audience"). And with that, his mission is complete.
Musical numbers
- 2004 Broadway production
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Recordings
There are two recordings of the score available, both starring
In popular culture
A recurring segment entitled "Would You Rather?" on the podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! uses the entirety of the "Opening Fanfare" as its theme. A running gag involves the guests complaining about the length and host Scott Aukerman berating them for interrupting it.
References
- ^ Interview with Stephen Sondheim, BBC Radio 3, Composer of the Week, March 26, 2010
- ^ ISBN 9781904350613. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Gardner, Paul (May 19, 1974). "'Frogs' They Would A‐Swimming Go". The New York Times. p. 119. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Gussow, Mel (May 23, 1974). "Stage: 'Frogs' in a Pool". The New York Times. p. 49. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ a b Green, Jesse (June 27, 2004). "THEATER; A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Punch Line". The New York Times.
- ^ "The Frogs - 1975 Regional (US)". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "1984, The Frogs, University Theatre". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d "The Frogs". The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide.
- ^ Portantiere, Michael (January 25, 2005). "The Frogs". TheaterMania.
- ^ "Roger Bart Replaces Chris Kattan in The Frogs". Broadway.com. July 11, 2004.
- ^ Suskin, Steven (February 6, 2005). "ON THE RECORD: A New Recording of Sondheim's The Frogs". Playbill. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth; Simonson, Robert (May 13, 2005). "Drama League Names Doubt and Dirty Rotten Best of 2004-05 NYC Season". Playbill. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "The Frogs". pegasusplayers.org. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Christiansen, Richard (March 15, 1988). "Pegasus Makes A Big Splash With The Frogs". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "The Frogs at Truman College - O'Rourke Theatre". Theatre in Chicago. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Barnidge, Mary Shen (May 9, 2007). "Theater: The Frogs". Windy City Times.
- ^ Rawson, Christopher (February 20, 2007). "Stage Review: Sondheim's Frogs is ribeting musical". Post Gazette. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Hoover, Ted (February 22, 2007). "The Frogs". Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Playhouse Current Events". Archived from the original on 9 February 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (January 10, 2011). "Casting Announced for FreeFall Theatre's Staging of Frogs". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ "UTS Backstage Presents, The Frogs: A New Musical". Facebook.
- ^ Luce, Claire Boothe (August 13, 2015). "The Frogs: A New Musical". TheatreNow. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
- ^ Billington, Michael (March 20, 2017). "The Frogs review – Nathan Lane's larky update of Sondheim musical". The Guardian.
- ^ https://www.mastervoices.org/events/the-frogs/
External links
- The Frogs at the Internet Broadway Database
- The Frogs at the Music Theatre International website