The Frogs
The Frogs
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#1re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 8:20pmI've never heard of that show
Ruffian
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/04
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#3re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 8:45pmNathan Lane plays a Greek dude who is sent to save the world or something. Don't hold me to that.
DoReMi
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/03
#5re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 9:14pm
It's about this:
All these forgs are having a ball. There's one lady frog who's really sick. So all the other frogs put her on a tire and shoot her through the roof.
Oy! What a mavalous show!
#6re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 10:31pm
it's about Dionysus, god of theatre, who makes a journey to the underworld to bring George Bernard Shaw back to life. But when he gets there, the god of the underworld is having a feast with all of the playwrights and they have a party. Dionysus meets Shakespeare and decides to bring him back to life instead. (((their journey gets delayed by frogs, hence the title)))
-d.b.j-
#7re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 10:51pmNo wonder I didn't get it. There were no dancing kittins.....
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#8re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:16pm
It's based on the play by Aristophanes - anyone familiar with Pirates of Penzance will recall the Major General singing:
"I know the croaking chorus from The Frogs by Aristophanes"
The Sondheim version was originaly done in the swimming pool at Yale. The chorus included Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and Chrisptoher Durang - all Yale Drama students at the time. There was also a team of synchronized swimmers costumed as frogs who did "water ballet" sequences throughout.
While the new version is being done on a regualr stage, there may well be a portion of the stage with water. The Lincoln Center production of Twelfth Night (With Helen Hunt) had a small pool.
#9re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/20/04 at 11:33pmHmmm...is YALE in or around NEW YORK? Is this SONDHEIM show also going to be concidered a Broadway revival, just cuz' it played in or close to NY at one time, even though it never actually played on Broadway and is being billed as the first ever Broadway production?
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#10re: The Frogs
Posted: 5/21/04 at 12:11am
There's no way this production will be considered a revival. Most of the book is newly written by Nathan Lane, and Sondheim wrote something like 7 new songs for it. And the other production was in the Yale friggin' swimming pool. In Connecticut.
But you were being sarcastic, right CatsNY?
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#12Still don't get it after hearing the CD
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:11amThen you really ARE in trouble. Suggest you get a copy of the original play by Aristophanes
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#13Consistent word from Frogs Team says 'NO WATER'
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:14amThe scenic designer is Giles Cadle, and the word from Lane has consistently been NO WATER in this version
CaTheatreGirl
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#14Consistent word from Frogs Team says 'NO WATER'
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:25amOther than the water bottles the audience might bring into the theater.
EddieVarley
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/4/04
#15Consistent word from Frogs Team says 'NO WATER'
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:31am
The source material for this will prove to be ripe for a wonderful update, and with the cast they have and Lane really putting himself into it, with both writing and performing, I'm more excited about it than anything on the theatrical horizon.
The recent recording is actually very lush and quite funny.
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#16Seltzer bottles
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:35amspraying the frogs that escape into the audience.
EddieVarley
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/4/04
#17Seltzer bottles
Posted: 5/21/04 at 10:43amCaGal if I sit with you and we are in the first row, hopefully nobody will spray anything!
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#18Seltzer bottles
Posted: 5/21/04 at 11:03amIt's about this frog called Kermiticus who is shunned by everyone in school because he is green. He sings a plaintive song about his condition early in Act 1. Then a blonde goddess (Lane) descends from Mt. Olympus in a bubble and sings him a comfording song about how everyone in the world has issues with people being different and that it is no big deal. Then they all are magically transported to the Deep American South in the early 1960s and meet other bitter, jaded people and Kermiticus discovers that life is not so bad after all.
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
CaTheatreGirl
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#20Seltzer bottles
Posted: 5/21/04 at 2:48pmEddie, for a good front row seat, it won't matter. I like frogs. I'll be prepared! Looking forward to the show and to see what synopsis will be the one we see!
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#21Seltzer bottles
Posted: 5/21/04 at 3:36pmArticle in the june Vogue re this show. Not lots of info but some stuff.
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#23Front Row Seat?
Posted: 5/21/04 at 7:20pm
Oh, no! Front row seats. Frogs in your lap for sure! AND seltzer spraying ALL over you. You'd better bring the plastic sheets. Just like a Gallagher show!
SamIAm
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#24How's the score?
Posted: 5/21/04 at 7:51pmIf you're talking about the original (which you must be because the new one isn't released yet), it is odd. I do like it but it is NOT typical Sondheim. I am looking forward to this new version, but listening to the old one and reading the original play is great background. Political satire and comedy. Great stuff.
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