By Arielle Gervasi
Come spend A Year with Frog and Toad and experience the heartwarming adventures and antics of the classic story-time duo with an everlasting friendship. Now a Tony Award-nominated musical!
When I heard that Frog and Toad was coming to the stage, I was thrilled. As a child, I had treasured the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel and watched every episode of the Claymation television series.
Auston James, as Frog, and MJ Sieber, as Toad, bring these characters to life as they sing and dance across the stage, reliving the classic tales and delivering unforgettable quips. These tales’ brilliance lie in their simplicity as Frog and Toad encounter little situations and problems we can all relate with: struggling with willpower (“one very last cookie”), Toad’s dilemma regarding his personal appearance (“I look funny in my bathing suit”), and many more.
Sieber’s over-the-top facial expressions will put both children and adults into hysterics while James perfectly captures Frog’s quiet joy and wisdom.
Additional credit goes to Christian Duhamel, one of the chorus members who takes part in playing various supporting characters, but really shines as the “Snail with the mail.” In the process of slowly delivering Toad’s mail, he does several jazzy solos, singing about how he “came out of his shell” by moving past those who discouraged his dreams of becoming a postman.
To complement this fairytale-like production, the sets are wonderful and whimsy, including flowers that grow right out of the stage, a giant sled (to comically remind us that Frog and Toad are indeed still little amphibians), and lots of leaves and snow to invoke the changing weather throughout the course of the year.
And don’t leave early! The cast takes the end of the show to receive questions from the audience, giving the kids a chance to meet Frog, Toad, and the rest of the cast.
Frog and Toad will be at Seattle Children's Theatre through January 15, 2012.
For tickets and information, go to http://www.sct.org/browse/Index.aspx
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