This energetic adaptation of Aristophanes’ play The Frogs is must-see for anyone looking for a fun evening of bawdy comedy with political bite. Sydney playwright and director Alex Kendall Robson has a passion for the classics including Shakespeare and the great Greeks. He has taken the 405 BC comedy, thrown in a few lines about Donald Trump and the cuts-to-funding-for-the-arts, but has kept the mythical version of the underworld and Aristophanes’ story line.
Dionysus, the god of wine, women and song, is worried about the decline of the world and decides to travel to Hades to bring back the recently deceased tragedian Euripides. He believes Euripides can write a play that would save the world from famine, war and earthly demise. The parallels about the need to save our current world from these same calamities is not overdone. It doesn’t need to be – everyone knows it. This adaptation laughs at the state of the world and claims it is the theatre’s right to do so. That’s what culture is for.
Along the way to Hades, Dionysus encounters a chorus of croaking frogs (hence the title) and various comedic mishaps. Once there, he arranges a debate between Euripides and Aeschylus over who is the better playwright. Which one should Dionysus bring back from Hades to save the world by writing a play? The cast of eleven dance, sing, and play the piano, banjo, and guitar. The frogs dance in adorable frog masks. Go to see this play just for the Frog Dance!
Pat Mandziy plays the Dionysus and Eddy O’Leary is Xanthias, his servant. These two are reminiscent of Don Quixote and Sancho – the naïve Spaniard who wants to save the world and his comic offsider who doubts his master’s vision. The others are Zachary Aleksander, Dani Bainbridge, Meg Bennetts, Axel Berecry, Max Fernandez, Sebastyen Filipinski, James Robin, Nic Starte and Larissa Turton. All terrific comic actors.
Set designer Tom Bannerman has placed a piano on a moveable platform and irregularly shaped side-sails that characters pop in and out of. The costume designer Josh Carter has created a terrific set of frog, toga and musician togs. Holly Nesbitt’s lighting, David Wilson’s sound and Zachary Aleksander’s music all work together seamlessly. Choreographer Dani Bainbridge keeps the pace fast and funny. Full marks to Jay Murrin’s technical management of this complex fast-moving play.
The play is a mix of slapstick, camp humour, political commentary and a celebration of great theatre with the underlying message that strong culture is essential in troubled times.
THE FROGS : IN HELL THEY SING SHOW TUNES is playing at the New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown on the 6th September 2025. Duration is 75 minutes.
Production photography by Bob Seary
https://newtheatre.org.au/the-frogs-in-hell-they-sing-show-tunes/
