"FROGS" OBCR

[maybethistime]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 6:03pm

hey guys! i heard that the FROGS obcr is coming out soon, and i was honestly happy that finally a new broadway st was being released, although i have some reservations. the show got so-so to BAD reviews, and although i am a sondheim fan, can anyone tell me if any of the music ir memorable, or even good?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/10/04 at 6:11pm

get it. the end.

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:14am

Yay, I can blow off some of the thoughts bouncing around my head via this thread!

I personally loved the show, even if (I happened to think) Nathan's book was weak and overstuffed with too many Anti-Bush jokes (I mean, they were HILARIOUS (..and then there's the Big-Bully Bush Frog who likes to make preemptive strikes..), but after awhile you get sick of hearing too much about Bush and not enough about the plot) and the fact that the show's message was flung in your face every five seconds. Roger Bart(!!!!LOVEHIM!!!!) and Nathan (to an extent...I was kind of let down, to be honest, with all the hype surrounding him. But then, I saw it a few days after he hurt his legs on the trap door, and was thrilled he actually went through with the show despite the injury) were what made the show for me.

I loved the music, though I can't say it's one of Sondheim's best works. I thought it was really catchy and fun, and I can honestly say that there wasn't one song that I didn't completely enjoy.

*sigh* Despite it's flaws, I miss it. I miss it so much.

...well, maybe just Roger Bart in a toga.

Updated On: 12/11/04 at 12:14 AM

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:17am

Xanthias' slave costume, oh my goodness. One of the best costumes in the show. It makes me want to kidnap him and make him my own, personal slave.

That's all I have to contribute. Oh, and, get the CD.

;_; Now I miss The Frogs.

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:26am

When he came out from behind the curtain....I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe - all I could do was clap and shake and go "WHOO" and be a fangirl.

...I worship whoever put him in it.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:29am

I agree! Three cheers for Chris Kattan for dropping out!

Roger Bart was not only the reason I went and saw it, he was by far my favorite part. He's also the reason I'm going to be buying the cd. Although I truly did enjoy the music...otherwise I wouldn't bother.

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:42am

Yeah, Roger was honestly what made me go see the show (come to think of it, I've done a lot of things for his sake - I bought Triumph of Love, not knowing anything about it but that he was on it, I sat through that entire Lady and the Tramp sequel just to hear him sing, I saw Stepford the night it opened for him...wow, it's kind of scary in retrospect. o.O) Anyway, back to The Frogs. I had heard about it, was intrigued, but not enough so to get me to want to see it. However, the minute Roger signed up....it became my life's mission to see it, heehee. He was truly the best part of the show - I just wished his part hadn't been cut down because of Chris Kattan x.x. He was hardly in the second act!

I know I've posted God knows how many times on the subject, but Roger is such a sweetheart! It's one of the things I love most about Broadway - the connection. You can feel so close to your favorite actors, meet them, praise them, act like an idiot in front of them...it's all good ^_^.

..you know, whenever I post about him (whether it's here or on the message board on his site), it always seems to be late at night, and I always, ALWAYS am really out of it, and so when I look back at what I've written, I cringe and think, "Oh GOD, what if he sees this?"

...that wouldn't be cool. x.x.

Updated On: 12/11/04 at 12:42 AM

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 1:01am

Oh, thank goodness, I can finally come out of the closet and say that I saw The Frogs just for him. I mean, Nathan Lane was a huge bonus, but I wouldn't have begged my mother to bring me if Roger wasn't in it.

*spastic fangirl*

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 1:27am

Although I didn't enjoy the show, I will definitely get the CD. I thought Nathan Lane (and his book) were terrible, and he was just his normal self again - same in everything. Roger was the best part of it - he's very talented. I wouldn't be surprised if Sondheim's score gets nominated - it's better than most new scores so far.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 1:46am

Come out of the closet, Mythus? Now? I thought you did that a long time ago...

[stacey717]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 1:48am

I'd definitely say you better git it!


I didn't lovelovelove the show itself (I agree the book was not really wonderous and Nathan tried to push the poliyical message so much the whole play, wel, it fell pretty flat and actually had no genuinegenuine message because of the overt funniness with some political stuff in the first half yet in the second little or no comedy comparitively--very annoying...it could have been so hilarious throughout too...)


HOWEVER!
I would say the music isn't bad at all and I much enjoyed several songs, if not more that I could remember what I heard that day I saw the show (I have the studio recording which, well, roger bart's not in it for one, nor does it include prolly my favorite peice of music in the production-- the revamped 'traveling music' called "I love to travel")

I saw it this past summer on my b-day, July 17th, only days (very literally) after Roger even started performing in the show. I was so very happy to see him step out on the stage and not the understudy (no offense to the understudy, but I was already high off the serendipity in him being in the show instead of kattan, and this only by two days at the most)--without any mention in the playbill, nor announcement, or anything for that matter. I had bought tix in May to go on my b-day because I had seen the prodcuers 2 months before, with lane/broderick, and it was the beginning of a revitalized b'way love-- I figured I may as well see the show if lane is in it and redoing the book, not to meniton that chris kattan would be in it, and i was curious as to what he'd do. Needless to say again (but i will anyway) I was very happy that Bart replaced Kattan and that he joined the show in the nick of time!

Roger Bart is great-- I love his voice-- I definitely would say the show's obcr will be a worthwhile addition to a collection!

I for one can't wait for the recording... you should go get it when it comes out!

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 2:59am

Awful music. Awful script. The scene between Shakespeare and Shaw was the only thing I enjoyed. Never gonna buy this one. Roger Bart was charming and it was good to see him on stage again. But that new song, "Ariadne", that was written especially for this new production was wretched.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 3:01am

I believe this was one of Sondheims weakest scores & he may have gotten a pass because he was Sondheim

[SamIAm]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 9:08am

It is being released on 1/25. In spite of what many thought was a weak score, I LOVED the music from this show, both the new songs and the new takes on the old Greek Choral pieces.

I Love to Travel, Ariadne, et al...it is NOT classic, standard by the book Sondheim...it is a bit quirky but perfect for the setting and tone of the show. I can't wait.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 9:59am

Smart, snarky, tuneful fun. I saw it seven or eight times (gotta check my datebook, can't remember the exact number). I'll chuckle to myself recalling moments and lines from it ("this must be your EMOTIONAL baggage!..."It's PRETTY funny!" ..."Can the world stop spinning on its..AXIS??!"..."I couldn't compete." ..."That means..this show...is..all..about MEEEE!!!..."What's shakin'?"..."Help me, Greg..." and of course, my latest signature line)
I really loved the score and thought 'Ariadne'a highlight - Lane was very wounded and touching in it. Bart was hysterically funny as usual (I can still see him falling face first onto that knapsack) but loved especially John Byner's Charon ("Charon, Sharon and Darren") and Peter Bartlett's delicious Pluto. So yeah, I can't wait for the CD!

[SamIAm]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 11:14am

Oh, Master, you have made me LONG for the show all over again.

[CaTheatreGirl]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 11:48am

I only saw it three times and now have to wait for the OBC recording. Loved those snippets, Master. Great memories of the show! "I Love to Travel!"

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:31pm

I thought you did that a long time ago...

I wish I could say that were true, Lael, but I've actually yet to come out. *sigh* I mean, to everyone else in the world. I'm sure this board knows.

You guys aren't helping at all! I can't wait for the cast recording, I just can't. I'll have to pass time by trying to remember the lyrics. *dances* I love to travel, I say we leave the world alone! It may unravel, but it's the mess we've always known. Alright, okay, it isn't perfect, still it's perfectly okay, and if it's gonna go to hell? Then let it. Why should I as well? Forget it.

I know there's more but I'm too sad to remember them all. *pouts* How early will PS Classics be releasing it? Anyone know? They said a few weeks, but that would probably mean early January. Sigh.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:33pm

It is Sondheim. Get it. End of story.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:53pm

Sondheim is not a god. He puts on & takes his pants off like everyone else. When he goes to the john, it does not come out gold etc. He is a talented composer/lyricist & a true theater giant. But a god, please

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:54pm

Sondheim is not a god.

He is in my religion.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 12:56pm

If it makes you happy, great

[QuiteSo]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 3:13pm

"Watch the nipples!"

MasterLcZ...just curious, but did you see it September 4th? That's when I saw it, and I know Nathan ad-libbed that when Burke Moses started cracking up...XD.

Your name made me think of something else I loved - Roger screeching out, "MASTER!!!" when Nathan was taken by the frogs. In his Leo Bloom, "I'm HYSTERICAL!!" voice...ah, good times.

Anyway, yes. The show wasn't spectacular. I had such high hopes for it, too. But it was a fun night!

Erm...for lack of anything better to end with....
"First I had the gripe, then trouble with my hip, now I have blisters on my lip, this trip is giving me the PITS - "
"You can stop rhyming RIGHT THERE!"

[Mythus]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 3:28pm

Frogs! La la Frogs! La la something la Frogs! Not your hoighty-toighty intellectuals, not your hippy-dippy homosexuals, just your easy-breezy, simple, warm-hearted, cold-blooded frogs of the frond and the pond we never go beyond...or something like that.

[DJ Tifa]

Posted: 12/11/04 at 6:18pm

Ah, yes. The "watch the nipples" adlib. I still crack up to this day about it XD

More on topic...can't wait until the OBCR comes out. I've been wanting it for months.