Seasonal adventures - Chicago Reader

There might be people out there who don’t enjoy Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series of children’s books, but I don’t want to know them. Whether you know the stories well or not, the popular family musical A Year With Frog and Toad, now in a sweet and sturdy revival with Young People’s Theatre of Chicago (YPTC), offers a delightful holiday season outing for youngsters and their grown-ups. (The year in question ends at Christmas, which also makes it appropriate for this time in the calendar.)

A Year With Frog and Toad
Through 12/21: Sat 11 AM, Sun 11 AM and 1:30 PM; Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, yptchi.org, adults $37.50-$41.50, children 12 and under $26.50-$29.50, recommended 4+

Directed by artistic director Randy White, this Frog and Toad, as with all of the company’s productions, relies on recorded music (Sam Shankman is the music director), but that doesn’t detract from the charms of this 2002 show, featuring music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by his younger brother, Willie Reale. Originally produced by Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Frog and Toad made the leap to Broadway and won three Tony nominations (rare—and welcome—acknowledgment for a show designed for young audiences).

Frog (Ryan Stajmiger) is the chipper and adventurous half of the duo, while Toad (Teddy Gales) is more in the Eeyore mode (“Blah” is one of his favorite expressions in the books). But as in YPTC’s Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”, presented earlier this year, the two are friends because of their differences, not in spite of them. Toad’s attitude toward time (and possibly physical activity) is encapsulated by his destruction of his alarm clock as hibernation ends, whereas Frog embodies carpe diem in amphibian form.

A big part of this musical’s charm comes in the easy way it delivers ideas about friendship and change without pandering or lecturing to youngsters. “Don’t be afraid to grow,” Toad sings to the seeds he’s planted in his yard, fearful that his shouting at them earlier has caused them to withdraw. But the show also celebrates the joys of eating cookies, the vicarious thrill of ghost stories, and the simple pleasure of getting a handwritten letter in the mail. (Even if it takes a while to get there, because it’s being delivered by a snail, played with delightful can-do spirit by Sam Hook. Yes, it’s literally snail mail.)

Ellen MacKay’s clever costumes (including kitting out the choral birds as a pilot and two flight attendants) and the adroit, simple set by Lauren Helpern add visual wit to the production, which unfolds in a spritely 75 minutes. It’s a lovely option for celebrating this season and all the others with your favorite kids.

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Reader reviews of Chicago theater, dance, comedy, and performance arts.