⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Stephen Sondheim’s rarely-seen musical The Frogs, first staged in a Yale University swimming pool in 1974, is no doubt a bizarre one. But in the hands of director Georgie Rankcom, this revival at Southwark Playhouse Borough sees it become a riotous and laugh-out-loud funny theatrical experience despite being mad as a box of (how does that one go…?)

From the moment you enter the theatre, it’s clear that you’re in for something a little… different. The pre-show playlist, featuring “Crazy Frog” and Kermit the Frog’s “It’s Not Easy Being Green”, sets the comedic tone perfectly. But it’s the hilarious opening by our two leads, Dan Buckley (Dionysos) and Kevin McHale (Xanthias), delivering a delightfully tongue-in-cheek lesson in theatre etiquette, that truly launches the evening’s metatheatrical madness.

In fact, the production is incredibly meta throughout, frequently breaking the fourth wall with irreverent references to Kevin McHale’s Glee fame and musical theatre itself (the Bad Cinderella reference gets a particularly big laugh). It’s a show that refuses to take itself seriously, and is all the better for it.

The plot of The Frogs follows Dionysos and Xanthias as they descend into Hades in a bid to revive George Bernard Shaw, believing great art can save civilisation. It’s an absurd premise, and the production wisely leans into that absurdity. Along the journey down the River Styx, they encounter the titular frogs (Dionysos’ biggest phobia), brought to life by the skilled ensemble with energetic and amphibian choreography by Matt Nicholson.

Buckley is a joy to watch as Dionysos, leaning into the god of theatre’s flair for melodrama with a performance that is both self-aware and genuinely committed. McHale, making his UK stage debut, is equally great as his reluctant sidekick Xanthias. He brings excellent comic timing and plays perfectly off Buckley. Together, they make a formidable comic duo.

Notable supporting performances include Joaquin Pedro Valdes as a swaggering Herakles, and Carl Patrick as stoned River Styx ferryman Charon as well as his “twin brother”, Pluto’s irritable gatekeeper. At the performance I attended, Pluto was played by Drag Race alum Victoria Scone, who delivered a crowd-pleasing number with undeniable star power.

The music, while not as instantly memorable as his more famous works, is quintessentially Sondhiem: complex, layered, and witty. Under musical director Yshani Perinpanayagam, the cast handles the score with impressive skill. It’s no small feat to make this challenging material feel effortless, but the cast rises to the occasion.

The show’s design is just as playful as its tone. Samuel Biondolillo’s lighting design fills the space with glowing webbed frog feet, as well as perfectly complementing the neon accents in Libby Todd’s frog costumes. The effect is silly, surreal, and completely delightful.

This bold and bonkers revival of The Frogs is exactly the kind of theatre that delights in its own ridiculousness. It’s irreverent, joyful, and incredibly funny. For Sondheim fans, it’s essential viewing. For everyone else, it’s a wildly entertaining dive into the absurd. Just watch out for frogs.

The Frogs runs at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 28th June 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/the-frogs/#book-tickets