The Frogs
Southwark Playhouse Borough
until 28th June 2025
tickets
Having brushed up my knowledge on Greek Mythology for Hadestown it was time to do the same for a trip to Southwark Playhouse Borough last night to see another musical, The Frogs.
The Frogs is a comedy originally written by Aristophanes way back in 405BC. In 1974, it was ‘freely adapted’ by Stephen Sondheim and Bert Shevelove, performed in the Yale University swimming pool with a cast that included students Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver. In 2004 it was ‘even more freely adapted’ for a Broadway revival by Nathan Lane with Sondheim writing a further seven songs.
The end result is a gazillion miles away from Aristophanes’ play and unfortunately despite the rewrites, The Frogs never was one of Sondheim’s big hits, but this London revival directed by Georgie Rankcom is certainly different and entertaining to watch, gloriously mixing Ancient Greeks, dancing frogs and cutting social commentary.
Can Art Save Civilization?
This is the question the Dionysus, the God of Drama and Wine (Dan Buckley) poses as he and his slave Xanthias (Kevin McHale) embark on a trip to the underworld to bring back a writer to inspire and educate, in order to solve the world’s problems. En route they have various comic adventures. Heracles, Dionysus’ half-brother, (Jaoquin Pedro Valdes) instructs him on becoming more ‘buff’, Charon the ferryman (Carl Patrick) sails them along the River Styx where they meet a troupe of dancing frogs and when they reach The Underworld, George Bernard Shaw (Martha Pothen) and William Shakespeare (Bart Lambert) have a battle of words to win their place back on earth.
Some not so subtle changes have been made to modernise the show not just the names of the writers, there are also references to mobile phones, current affairs and perfect nods to some of Sondheim’s greater hits Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and Company. Sondheim’s influence is strong as is Nathan Lane’s.
It is a strong cast of eight, Dan Buckleu and Kevin McHale as the hapless duo Dionysus and Xanthias have a great rapport and seem to be enjoying themselves enormously, their fast delivery of lines and comic humour was spot on. The rest of the ensemble play a multitude of roles between them and never tire in energy or enthusiasm, it is a small intimate stage and the fast pace and slick choreography was to be applauded.
The role Pluto is being shared by guest artistes and last night we were treated to Victoria Scone, but despite her appearance and the marvellous ‘Hades’ number (ft. some very special cameos), the second act unfortunately slows down considerably and despite the wit, it lacks the hotchpotch craziness of the first act and needs to be ten minutes shorter.
So, can a story first performed in 405BC be relevant? Absolutely, we are questioned whether we should just accept things as they are or do something about it? In his final instructions to the audience Dionysus implores us not to just nod and shrug but not sit around while things fall apart.
The Frogs is not run of the mill and all a tad whacky, but if you are up for something different to watch I would recommend a trip to Borough.
Reviewer: Sammi O’Neill
⭐⭐⭐
Cast of The Frogs
Dan Buckley
Kevin McHale
Jaoquin Pedro Valdes
Carl Patrick
Martha Pothen
Bart Lambert
Alison Driver
Milo McCarthy