Merry Almost Christmas

A Year with Frog and Toad

Two best friends and next door neighbors, Frog and Toad share a whole year of everyday adventures that children will both identify with and enjoy watching. From baking cookies to frolicking at the beach, from raking Autumn leaves to sledding down the hillside, Frog and Toad, plus their other forest friends, enjoy their lives in the woodland together. As the year goes by lessons are learned and problems are solved because these two devoted friends care so much about each other. Children (and their grownups) will definitely be warmed by the joy and comradery found in their close friendship.

Based upon Arnold Lobel’s popular series of Caldecott Award-winning children’s books, the musical broke new ground in 2003 by becoming the first professional children’s theatre production to play on Broadway. Commissioned by the author/illustrator’s daughter Adrianne, and written by the Reale brothers, Robert (music) and Willie (book & lyrics), the musical was nominated for three Tony Awards. 

Producing Artistic Director Randy White’s charming, often hilarious and sometimes touching production shortens the original two-act musical to a more child-friendly 85-minute 

one-act. Mr. White has inventively staged and guided his five actors to bring out the animal magnetism in each of their anthropomorphic characters. In particular, the amphibious attachment and admirable affection demonstrated between Frog and Toad becomes the show’s real strength. 

Sam Shankman’s expert Musical Direction creates the pleasing harmonies and auditory ecstasies that the audience enjoys. Tuesdai B. Perry’s vaudeville-inspired Choreography delights with its lively and beautifully executed moves. The simple and colorful Scenic Design by Lauren Helpern provides young theatergoers with the perfect representation of the environment created in Arnold Lobel’s art work. And, while there’s no attempt to resemble actual animals, the Costumes Designed by Ellen MacKay suggest the characters through her choices in color and fabric.

Teddy Gales, a Jack Black lookalike (THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Paramount; 1776 at the Marriott) plays Mr. Worry Wart Toad with vim, vigor and vivacity. Handsome Ryan Stajmiger (URINETOWN at Theo Ubique; FROZEN at Paramount) is his calmer, level-headed more optimistic friend, Frog. Together they provide the Yin and Yang of this friendship, complementing one another perfectly. Both actors bring to the stage their sparkling personalities, expert singing, dancing and acting skills and plenty of professional experience. The two actors delight the audience with songs like “Getta Loada Toad,” “Cookies,” “He’ll Never Know” and the touching “Merry Almost Christmas,” which gives this musical a holiday touch. 

Frog and Toad are beautifully supported by petite Maliha Sayed (A LIE OF THE MIND, Raven Theatre), belter Hannah Remian (THE LITTLE MERMAID, Drury Lane), and funny song-and-dance man Sam Hook (AMELIE, Kokandy), as their woodland neighbors. The trio open and close the show playing twittering birds returning home from their migration, but they soon morph into a mouse, a mole, a turtle, a lizard and other animals. Sam is especially funny as Snail, whose job it is to deliver “The Mail” and, upon successfully completing his job, sings the rousing, “I’m Coming Out of My Shell.”

Chicago has its share of excellent theatre for young audiences, but Young People’s Theatre of Chicago has proven to be one of the frontrunners of this genre. Employing top-notch actors and talented behind-the-scenes theatrical artists, Randy White’s polished professional productions appeal to all ages, both children and adults alike. The pair of amphibious acquaintances in this Tony Award-nominated musical both entertain, educate and enlighten audiences in a production that, as the curtain falls, wishes theatergoers a “Merry Almost Christmas.”

Photos: Steven Townshend | Distant Era

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented November 29-December 21 by Young People’s Theatre of Chicago at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 

2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-404-7336 or by going to www.yptchi.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.