The Frogs
Southwark Playhouse
Currently playing at Southwark Playhouse, The Frogs is a spirited and unusual revival of Stephen Sondheim’s rarely-staged musical. It’s a show that wears its eccentricity proudly, and while it doesn’t quite stick the landing, there’s plenty to enjoy- especially in a first act that’s consistently hilarious, sharply performed, and full of unexpected delights.
Loosely based on Aristophanes’ classical Greek comedy, the musical follows Dionysos, the god of theatre, as he travels to the Underworld in search of a great playwright to bring back to Earth and save civilisation. He’s accompanied by his long-suffering servant Xanthias, and along the way they encounter an oddball cast of characters, including a musclebound Herakles, a chorus of glittering jazz-handed frogs, and ultimately, the ghosts of George Bernard Shaw and William Shakespeare, who must battle it out in a literary showdown.
What really shines in this production is the tone of the first half- it’s fast, funny, and refreshingly self-aware. Packed with clever gags, well-placed improvisation, and tongue-in-cheek musical theatre references (including a few knowing nods to Sondheim himself), the show frequently feels like it’s teetering on the edge of chaos, but in the best way. That sense of spontaneity works in its favour, helped along by a cast that clearly knows how to land a joke.
Dan Buckley is a charming Dionysos, blending comic cluelessness with likable energy. Kevin McHale is wonderful as Xanthias, with razor-sharp timing and a strong sense of physical comedy. Joaquin Pedro Valdes makes a memorable entrance as Herakles, playing up the bravado with just the right amount of exaggeration and all three have outstanding vocals to accompany their portrayals. The ensemble bring great versatility and enthusiasm to the staging, keeping the energy high even when the material veers into the absurd.
The design choices support the humour well. The spangly frog costumes are ridiculous in the best possible way, think glitter, jazz hands, and pure musical theatre camp; and moments like Ariadne’s “thread” being reimagined as a literal train trailing behind her costume add a cheeky visual wit to the direction. There’s an inventiveness to the staging that feels right at home in Southwark Playhouse’s flexible space, and the live band, under the direction of Yshani Perpinpanayagam, gives Sondheim’s challenging score the bounce and clarity it needs.
The second act, however, loses some of that initial spark. Once the plot shifts toward a philosophical debate between Shaw and Shakespeare, the momentum slows and the tone becomes more earnest. The satire is still there, but it feels a little more laboured and doesn’t quite recapture the breezy chaos of the first half. It’s a tricky balance, intellectually interesting, yes, but a shift that might leave some audience members wishing for more frogs and fewer speeches.
That said, this is a lively, cleverly staged production that knows exactly what it is. It leans into its own weirdness and largely pulls it off, thanks in no small part to a cast that’s clearly having fun. If you're in the mood for something quirky, referential, and genuinely funny (especially in its early scenes) The Frogs is worth a look. It may not be Sondheim’s most polished show, but in the right hands, like those at Southwark Playhouse, it makes for a surprisingly joyful evening.
★★★
Reviewed on Tuesday 27th May by Olivia
Photo Credit: Pamela Raith
{AD PR Invite- tickets gifted in exchange for honest review}
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