Chicago Children's Theatre - | Chicago Parent, January 19, 2006

Chicago Parent, January 19, 2006

Frog and Toad is great

January 19, 2006

These two amphibians make beautiful music

Chicago Children's Theatre makes a big splash with its inaugural production, "A Year With Frog and Toad." The award-winning musical adaptation of Arnold Lobel's charming books is a treat for all ages. Fast paced and funny, the show illustrates the ups and downs of friendships with great music, talented actors and engaging special effects.

Even without knowing the story, it took only a few minutes for my 5-year-old to buy into the world the play created, especially given the fantastic sets, creative costumes and realistic sound effects, provided mostly by live musicians.

The story takes Frog and Toad through the four seasons. They swim, tell scary stories and even sleigh ride. The three-person supporting ensemble performs a variety of roles including birds, a turtle, a mouse and a hilarious snail-mail carrier.

But as you might guess from the name, the play is all about Frog and Toad and relies heavily on the talents of the two lead actors. Bradley Mott is outrageously funny as the high-strung Toad, sending everyone in the audience into fits of laughter with his elastic facial expressions and exaggerated line deliveries. Joseph Anthony Foronda anchors Frog with playful dignity and makes the play's moral lessons easy to swallow.

Part of the mission of this new theater is to provide family entertainment on a grand scale, giving its shows Broadway-style production values. And it is remarkable how the theater achieves this. Moving waters, blossoming flowers, falling leaves and dancing snowflakes are some of the fantastic effects that take the production up a notch.

At one hour and 45 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission), this show is best for ages 5 and up. The second act story of the terrible and giant frog was intense and a little too scary for some of the little kids on a recent Sunday afternoon, but overall, Director Henry Godinez has found the perfect balance to appeal to audiences of any age.

While you're there, check out the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's interactive frog-and-toad displays in the theater lobby. It makes pre-show and intermission more fun.