A&E: It’s an OK ‘Life’ at Indiana Rep

Sat. December 20 – 2008

Lou Harry – lharry@ibj.com
IBJ staff

This week, thoughts on three holiday shows—and one in-your-face alternative.

As the holiday season approached again, I wondered if I had perhaps overpraised Actors Theatre of Indiana’s 2007 production of “A Year with Frog and Toad.” A ribbiting revisit to the too-brief run of the show this year (it closed Dec. 21) proved that, if anything, I didn’t praise it enough.

This time, actors Bradley Reynolds and Don Farrell were even more fused to their amphibious alter egos. The simple, entendre-free musical grew stronger from my familiarity with it. The songs were more charming. The modest adventures more evocative. And this time I could better appreciate the committed contributions of the trio of supporting performances and the crystal clear orchestra.

Is it too much to ask for a 2009 return? It truly makes me sad to think of a year without “Frog and Toad.”