The Frogs

The Frogs
Master Voices
Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall
November 4, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Master Voices

The Frogs, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was performed in concert by Master Voices at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall.  It was a rare opportunity to experience this unique  musical theatre piece.  Based on the 405 BC comedy by Aristophanes, the book was adapted by Burt Shevelove in 1974.  It was revived by Lincoln Center in 2004, with additional music by Mr. Sondheim.  That production was directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, with book revisions by Nathan Lane.  Mr. Lane introduced and narrated this concert presentation.  

Dionysos, the god of theatre and wine (played by Douglas Sills), realizes there is a desperate need for truth and humor in present day theatrical productions.  He takes his servant, Xanthias (played by Kevin Chamberlin), on a quest.  They travel to Hades to bring back George Bernard Shaw (played by Dylan Baker) to write new work.  While crossing the River Styx, Xanthias and Charon, the Boatman (played by Chuck Cooper), save Dionysos after he is captured by a group of frogs.  Upon arrival in Hades, they meet Plato (played by Peter Bartlett), who allows Shaw to leave for a short period of time.  They are all set to depart until Dionysos encounters a few other surprises that alter his original plan. 

This stellar cast and brilliant chorus presented this lesser-known Sondheim gem with skill and grace.  There were masterful and humorous performances by Douglas Sills, Kevin Chamberlin, Marc Kudisch, Chuck Cooper, Peter Bartlett, Dylan Baker, Jordan Donica, and Candice Corbin.  The choreography by Lainie Sakakura was creative and energizing.  Director/Conductor Ted Sperling delivered a stunning concert event. 

This presentation of The Frogs played for only one weekend (November 3 & 4).  Congratulations to Master Voices for making it memorable.  Check out their website for future concert performances (mastervoices.org).  They are sure to be valuable experiences.      

Domenick Danza

Girl From the North Country

 Girl From the North Country
Belasco Theatre
December 22, 2021 

Photo courtesy of Girl From the North Country

Girl From the North Country takes place in a rooming house in Duluth, Minnesota in 1934.  Each character has a different story, each full of heartache.  What unites them is the music of Bob Dylan.  Conor McPherson wrote and directed this production.  He weaves the stories together, offering hope, then taking it away.  The company brilliantly creates genuine moments that pull the audience into the needs of the characters.  As their stories progress, the characters face grim realities, yet they all continue on.  

Nick Laine (played by Jay O. Sanders) runs the rooming house.  His wife, Elizabeth (played by Mare Winningham), suffers from a form of dementia.  Their son, Gene (played by Aidan Wharton, u.s.), is an aspiring writer who drinks too much.  Their daughter, Marianne (played by Kimber Elayne Sprawl), is pregnant and unmarried.  Nick arranges with Mr. Perry (played by Tom Nelis) to marry Marianne.  He is quite a bit older than she is, and Marianne is not interested.  Mrs. Neilsen (played by Jeanette Bayardelle) is waiting for the settlement of her late husband’s will.  She is having an affair with Nick, and planning on using the money from the settlement to go into business with him.  Mr. and Mrs. Burke (played by Marc Kudisch and Luba Mason) have an adult son, Elias (played by Todd Almond), who is developmentally delayed.  When two unexpected guests, Joe Scott (played by Austin Scott) and Reverend Marlowe (played by Matt McGrath), arrive looking for rooms, they upset the already troubled lives of the residents of the rooming house.  

Austion Scott & Kimber Elayne Sprawl
Photo courtesy of Girl From the North Country

Nick and Marianne prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for all the guests.  It is a hardy celebration, then gradually the hope that each character has starts to run dry.  Marianne and Joe Scott are drawn together, mostly out of desperation, yet it is their risky decision to leave the rooming house together that takes their lives in a better direction. 

Robert Joy plays Dr. Walker.  He narrates the story, setting the pace and filling in the backstory and details.  This establishes the storytelling style for the piece and the tone for the performance.  Kimberly Elaine Sprawl plays Marianne with a subtle fire and vigor.  She and Austin Scott have a strong chemistry.  They pull away from one another, only to become more drawn together.  It is captivating.  Their story stands out.  It is full of hope. 

Mare Winningham & Jay O. Sanders
Photoc courtey of Girl From the North Country

Mare Winningham shines as Elizabeth Laine.  Jay O. Sanders has a strong presence as Nick Laine.  Jeanette Bayardelle is bold as Mrs. Neilsen.  These three actors create truthful and  powerful relationships.  Ms. Bayardelle and Mr. Sanders have a vibrant attraction, yet it does not break the strong bond between Ms. Winningham and Mr. Sander’s characters.

The story of the Burke family is dark and tragic.  Marc Kudisch and Luba Mason skillfully portray the numerous levels of these complex characters.  Todd Almond brings a touching level of innocence to the character of Elias, who is truly unaware of his own strength. 

The characters in Girl Form the North Country are all waiting.  Some are hiding.  Some are running.  There is a sadness about them, yet they all press on (as they sing at the end of the show).  Bob Dylan’s lyrics take these stories to a deep emotional level.  His music engages your emotions.  Girl From the North Country is playing at the Belasco Theatre.  

Domenick Danza

Hand to God

Hand to God

The Booth Theatre

March 20, 2015

Photo courtesy of Hand to God

Hand to God is aptly subtitled “a new American play.”  It questions the definitions of good and evil by separating them from the various grey areas in between.  A concept every American would benefit to examine and reflect upon.  Playwright Robert Askins writes with a unique, edgy wit.  The script is strikingly sobering.  The show is cunningly directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel.  Steven Boyer is stellar as Jason.  He and the entire cast (Geneva Carr, Marc Kudisch, Michael Oberholtzer, and Sarah Stiles) serve up authentic performances that are remarkable, raw, and funny.

The first act will make you laugh and agree that yes, when the world hands you more than you can manage, put on a sock puppet, let it curse like crazy, and say the devil made you do it.  This is what the main character, Jason, does when he is overwhelmed with feelings of abandonment by the death of his father and the emotional detachment of his mother.  The second act gets real and violent and psychological as we see the depth of Jason’s despair.  The mood shifts from hysterical to disturbing.  Everyone in the audience stopped laughing (at different times) as they began to realize the level of volatility and frustration the character was embodying. 

The play was so good that I bought the refrigerator magnet… at intermission.  I usually wait until the end of the show.  This is strong seal of approval in my book, and the best $10 ever spent.  

My refrigerator Broadway show magnet collection.

Hand to God is presently in previews and officially opens April 7.  Go see this play!  It is a skillfully crafted work that uses humor to unmask truth.  A truth we all need to face.

Steven Boyer in "Hand to God"
Photo courtesy of Hand to God

A personal take away:  As a NYC Public High School teacher, certain students tend to go off (on a rant) on a regular basis with various expletives for any number of reasons.  Perhaps the next time this happens (I am thinking of one student in particular), I will picture her devilish voice coming from a sock puppet attached to her left hand.  This will allow me to 1) laugh at the absurdity of the situation, and 2) be empathetic to the level of fear and hurt that her outburst is covering.  Profound or sarcastic?  We’ll see.  I am sure I will have a chance to put this experiment into action this week.

Domenick Danza