A great deal of Enjoyable, and I Ain’t ‘Phibian: “A Year with Frog & Toad,” at St. Ambrose University by May 3

Frog and Toad, a basic grumpy/sunshine pair in kids’s literature, debuted in 4 simple readers written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel within the Nineteen Seventies. And once I say “easy reader,” I imply The Cat within the Hat-easy. Despite their restricted vocabulary, these minimalist tales of forest fauna with human-type existence have captivated children and adults alike. So maybe inevitably, there’s a musical adaptation, one commissioned by Lobel’s daughter Adrianne – although it was no mere vainness challenge; she’s a theatre skilled.

With music by Robert Reale and e book and lyrics by brother Willie Reale, A Year with Frog & Toad leapt from a 2000 workshopping at New York’s Vassar College, to the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis in 2002, to off-Broadway that very same 12 months, and to Broadway in 2003. Though it closed after two months, it nonetheless managed to hop away with three Tony Award nominations, together with Best Musical. (It misplaced to Hairspray in all three classes.)

The present’s present St. Ambrose University manufacturing, which I noticed on Saturday afternoon, is directed and choreographed by theatre-department chair Dan Hale, with music course by frequent Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse performer Bobby Becher. It’s overflowing with cheer and coloration, boasts splendid manufacturing values and an lively forged, and I declare it pleasant for all ages.

Technical director Aaron Hook’s set, nestled in St. Ambrose’s compact, below-ground Studio Theatre, is a comfy, inviting nook on the base of a tree that shrinks the viewers to wee-critter measurement, surrounded by oversize flowers, a cattail, and a morel mushroom, with a starry sky overhead. Scenic-charge artist Becky Meissen additionally deserves accolades for the transformation. Three arches hung with velvety crimson Austrian drapes are used successfully to facilitate swift scene adjustments.

For instance, within the cookies scene, quite than Toad merely strolling offstage with a tray to indicate that there’s an oven, one set of drapes rises to disclose a jaw-droppingly implausible vintage stove-and-oven unit. Surprising particulars like this carry additional taste to Hale’s already-solid manufacturing, and there are different components aimed on the enjoyment of the grown-up stratum. I used to be sitting within the entrance row, near the motion, which allowed me to learn the title of the e book Frog was studying. Funny. And no, I’m not telling you.

Three Birds (Allison Harker, Ebby Barber, and Rylan Moore), refined vacationers who winter within the south, carry glam once they return to the forest. Flaunting high quality (actual) feathers on costume hems and tux lapels, these pure singers open the present with a swingy, harmonized introduction to longtime pals Frog (Marriane Hammar) and Toad (Paloma Lopez). Both of those performers are laid-back and interesting all through their adventures. Incidentally, additionally they comport themselves as people – there isn’t a hopping – so we simply relate to them.

An early present spotlight exemplifies how pals, regardless of good intentions, can inadvertently create issues. Frog’s try and shoo onlookers away from the pond as a result of Toad is shy about showing in a showering swimsuit turns right into a burgeoning vaudeville song-and-dance quantity, with the group rising and the music’s refrain getting ever longer. Mouse (Claire Banks), Turtle (Kate James), Lizard (Esther Windt), and the Squirrels/Moles (Allie Crisco, Bella Vitale, and Faith Foley) contribute to the hilarity. The pond itself is splendidly evoked with a easy swath of blue material (manipulated by uncredited Fish) enlivened with sun-glint lighting results. It then turns into the setting for a comical underwater ballet with a Dixieland-jazz accompaniment.

Meanwhile, Snail (Zach Ulmer) virtually crawls away, terribly slowly, with the present. Having been given an errand by Frog, he units off enthusiastically (although, naturally, at a snail’s tempo), singing a country-Western-flavored tribute to his personal superb abilities, with a hysterically incongruous Speedy-Gonzalez-style bullet-ricochet sound impact. He exhibits up all through the narrative, nonetheless on that errand, and after triumphing, delivers a torch music with a giant, belting end.

The amphibians’ woodland pals perform lots of the scene adjustments and results, largely unobtrusively, although the Squirrels double as mischievous forces of nature – flinging about orange leaves, then tiny white snowflakes, of their huge fuzzy orange hats, enormous furry tails, and matching plaid shirts. These outfits, the Birds’ glittery finery, the natty duds of the title characters (and Toad’s fashion-backward bathing swimsuit) – all of the creatures’ wearables – had been offered by skilled costume designer Bradley Robert Jensen.

If you’re decided, you might assemble classes from the issues Frog and Toad face. What makes you undergo? Impatience, rampant fear, overindulgence, self-sabotage? How do you cease it? There could also be solutions someplace, however they’re not right here. In this little world of A Year with Frog & Toad, and hopefully in our huge world, too, an understanding good friend merely comforts and helps you get by your troubles.

Hale’s manufacturing, a trimmed-down hour in size, is satisfying, high-quality theatre in a small bundle. Seats are few and there’s already a buzz about this one, so purchase tickets upfront. To paraphrase a lyric from the present: Rutabagas come from a rutabaga root / And this little present is exceedingly cute.

A Year with Frog & Toad runs within the Studio Theatre of St. Ambrose University’s Galvin Fine Arts Center (2101 North Gaines Street, Davenport IA) by May 3, and extra info and tickets can be found by calling (563)333-6251 and visiting Cur8.com/19339/project/133532.