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REVIEW | The Frogs, Southwark Playhouse Borough - London
- Harry Brogan
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
A musical about Frogs...well its not exactly entirely all about the green jumping creatures really, but it certainly offers curiosity given its title.
'The Frogs' is the freely adapted musical by late theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove, adapted from Aristophanes' original 405 B.C. comedy play, which is now even more freely adapted by Nathan Lane. It follows Dionysos (who has a fear of frogs) and his quest of travelling down to Hades to bring back George Bernard Shaw to earth with Xanthias, with the aim for Bernard Shaw to write new works for the world within it's current political climate. But while the pair travel way down, Dionysos' nightmare emerges and battle commences between both, though when arriving at Hades the question and another competition rises against another famous writer, on who's words are best to save earth.
This Greek mythology musical is directed by Georgie Rankcom and has choreography by Matt Nicholson.
The shows adaption timeline may be complex to some with the show going way back to B.C. times, it's hard to not get a little muddled. This version, the even more freely adapted version by Nathan Lane, is simply bizarre entertainment, sparking enjoyment throughout, but doesn't feel the most action packed narrative there could be. It's simple, and yes it's easy to understand, but feels like it maybe could have more depth to it to really make an even more bigger impact than it did.
The show jokes about other musicals and another well known theatre writer and one of his works, a comment of watching Glee, and does provide witty comedy. However to me the symbol of the frogs personally doesn't feel very clear, giving mixed difficulty of understanding, in my opinion this should be bigger to fully understand what 'The Frogs' symbolise.
The characters are written very well with varying likeable enjoyment, with Dionysos (Dan Buckley) and Xanthias (Kevin McHale) being written as an amusing duo and Charon (Carl Patrick) written with some very comedic moments that are very laughable. Herakles played by Joaquin Pedro Valdes, who also joins the ensemble throughout the show, is written as charming. The role of Pluto in this production is being played by 4 guest stars with Danielle Steers portraying the role at this performance. Though Pluto only enters in act 2, the character is written as powerful and also in some ways a grand character. The books pace is steady, though could lend and add more time to add clarity in places, but Lane's book is good including many entertaining moments and characters. Overall Nathan Lane's book is an upbeat Greek comedy, that unfortunately at time lacks in its clarity and simple dialogue.
With music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, The Frogs is one of the Sondheim's lesser known works and while there are some nice songs within the show, unfortunately not one of the most strongest or most memorable works of Sondheim's. The numbers are entertaining when you hear them sung, though you unfortunately leave majority of them behind and not really remembering the lyrics. But on a positive side the songs that do stick are the humorous opening number 'Invocation & Instructions to the audience', its a breaking the fourth wall number where the rules of theatre etiquette are set firmly out, which is delivered hilariously by the leading duo (Buckley and McHale) and brings laughter to the audience, 'Hades' is another great number which has a mixture of feels and is performed by Steers. It's unfortunate that all don't stick, leaving me with a mixed bag of feelings.
Directed by Georgie Rankcom, Rankcom's direction sure makes use of the space at Southwark's Playhouse Borough - The Large space. It sometimes could seem a little repetitive and maybe at times not needed, with Rankcom's direction coming into the audience walking up and down the steps felt sometimes having mixed use. I do have to admire Rankcom's use of entrances within the set from trapdoors and steps from the set structure, a clever move to make use of a small space. Rankcom's direction creates nice imagery such as on the boat. Rankcom does build a nice connection with the audience and characters when needed and does create funny moments too. The direction also has a nod to Sondheim's Into the Woods, which is a nice touch. Rankcom's direction is clever and well thought out at times.
The small cast of 10 brings this show to the stage, with Dan Buckley as the Lead alongside Glee star Kevin McHale, Danielle Steers, Joaquin Pedro Valdes and Carl Patrick (also joining the ensemble occasionally) are all supported by what is a small ensemble who some play roles such as Shaw and Aridane.
The ensemble despite being small all bring beautiful vocals, and delivers energetic choreography by Matt Nicholson which fills the small space well especially during the interval scene the ensemble work great together throughout.
Lead Dan Buckley as Dionysos, delivers a great performance, full of comedy and determination to the character, Buckley also plays brilliantly alongside McHale, when they come together they create a loveable and laughable duo and with McHale’s excellent delivery it creates an agreeable watchable performance from the get go, while also Buckley's vocals are very good.
Glee star Kevin McHale makes his UK stage debut, McHale's stage presence is brilliant, with great interactions with the cast and also audience when needed, and again great comedy skills and timing especially when McHale's character jokes about his stage UK debut being actually Off-West End. McHale’s UK stage debut is a successful one with fine vocals throughout.
Finally The Frogs, yes maybe it isn't the strongest of Sondheim's and personally for me lacks clarity in places and maybe it does have some simple dialogue, but what it does have is a terrific cast, great comedy and great choreography, to me The Frogs is surprisingly a weirdly entertaining show throughout.
★★★
The Frogs plays at The Frogs, Southwark Playhouse Borough until 28th of June.
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