A fabulous cast finds its funny as gods, mortals and more in Sondheim’s merry musical fable
One of many potent reasons for admiring Stephen Sondheim is his eclectic range of subject matter. From Sweeney Todd, the murderous barber of Fleet Street, to the reunion of still sparkling retired chorus girls in Follies, he and his collaborators excel in storytelling onstage through song, dance and music – often about unlikely sounding subjects.
The Frogs has perhaps one of the most unlikely origin stories of any of his musicals, Aristophanes’ ancient Greek comedy of the same name (dating from 405 BC), which features a chorus of the eponymous amphibians. There are gods, too, as well as the odd mortal, at least two of whom are famous playwrights. George Bernard Shaw and William Shakespeare are sought out in Hades (AKA the underworld) by the immortal Dionysus (god of wine and drama) to compete for the crown of best ever playwright, and thus solve the lack of contemporary dramatic talent. Accompanied by his mortal sidekick, Xanthias, a resourceful slave, Dionysus boards the ferry to Hades to brave his worst fears – a huge colony of unpredictable leaping frogs making waves around the boat.
In the current revival of this surreal storyline, I love that Aristophanes’ name heads the list of Sondheim’s collaborators, "freely adapted by Burt Shevelove" and "even more freely by Nathan Lane" as the programme has it, both notable Sondheim sidekicks.
Under Georgie Rankcom’s well-focused direction, the cast of 10 performs as if divinely inspired, relishing the composer's lyrics and Matt Nicholson’s deliciously jaunty choreography. They light up the stage with broad smiles, clearly enjoying performing both as individuals and a close-knit company. And Libby Todd’s set and costume design succeed in conveying both glamour and (damp) down-to-earth discomfort, as appropriate.
I’m confident, too, that Sondheim and co would be more than delighted with the quartet of magnificent musicians, led by MD Yshani Perinpanayagam on keys, with Hannah Fry on woodwind, Dan Taylor on trumpet and Pippa Mason playing cello.
Dan Buckley’s Dionysus and Kevin McHale’s Xanthias make a well matched charismatic and quirky double act, McHale offering sparky support to the god in his frog phobia. Carl Patrick as Charon the boatman almost steals the show as he navigates both river and the slimy, hazardous amphibians; and Joaquin Pedro Valdes has fun as a Herakles, who is hardly muscle-bound, but sportingly lends his formidable lion-skin mantle to Dionysus.
When the dynamic duo gets to Hades, they meet Pluto, surprisingly gloriously dressed and glamorous – definitely drag queen material – played by a succession of guest stars (on press night by Victoria Scone, magnificent in both attire and presence). Bart Lambert’s Shakespeare and Martha Pothen’s Shaw relish a duel of their own most iconic lines. The cast is completed by Alison Driver’s smiling Ariadne, Dionysus’s beloved spouse, and energetic ensemble member Evonnee Bentley-Holder.
It is perhaps no surprise that several productions have been performed in and around swimming pools, though this is a ‘dry run’. Nevertheless the audience fully immersed themselves, if not in water, then in the fantastical fun of a well told story.
By Judi Herman
Photos by Pamela Raith
The Frogs runs until Saturday 28 June. 7pm, 2.30pm (Tue & Sat only). £10-£35. Southwark Playhouse, SE1 6BD. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk