Currently at Stoneham Theatre

The family-friendly Broadway musical currently on stage at Stoneham Theatre, “A Year with Frog and Toad,” follows the year-long adventures of Frog and Toad and their animal friends – bird, mouse, snail, turtle, mole and lizard. Based on the whimsical children’s stories by Arnold Lobel, the show consists of a compilation of different Lobel books and stories set to music.

While the stories, with their simple language and themes, appear to be aimed at very young children, the catchy music and clever lyrical word-play will appeal to all ages. (The three senior citizens sitting to my left thoroughly enjoyed last Saturday’s matinee.)

The story begins as buddies Frog (played by Stephen Barkhimer) and Toad (Edward M. Barker) awake one April from their long winter hibernation and follows them through the ensuing summer fall and winter. Actors Mary Callahan, Matt Spano and Ceit McCaleb Zweil each handle a variety of roles as animal friends and neighbors to Frog and Toad. Their adventures tend towards seasonal activities that kids can identify with: swimming, sledding, flying kites, watching flowers grow, playing in leaves, taking walks and baking cookies.

Common childhood concerns are also addressed, like fear of getting lost, monsters (the “Large and Terrible Frog”) and kids making fun of each other. One song “Getta Loada Toad,” which features the refrain, “Toad Looks Funny in a Bathing Suit” sung by the trio of Turtle, Lizard and Mouse.

“Five things you cannot dispute / Turtle always tells the troot / Bamboo comes from a bamboo shoot / Rutabaga comes from a rutabaga root / Bananas are the funniest fruit / And toad looks funny in a bathing suit.”

There are no elaborate animal costumes on display here. Playing Frog, Barkhimer dresses in mostly green street clothes, while Barker’s Toad is attired mainly in brown. The rest of the characters follow suit “Snail” carries a large backpack, which represents not only his shell but an object every kid can identify with. Snail (Matt Spano) sings a couple of the more memorable silly songs, “I’m Coming Out of My Shell” and “The Letter,” a ditty about delivering the mail.

“I’m the snail with the mail / I deliver without fail / In the rain sleet or snow / No snail has feet more fleeta / Why I’m practically a cheetah / I put the go in escargot.”

“A Year with Frog and Toad” is a family show in more ways than one. The show was conceived and originally produced by Arnold Lobel’s daughter, noted set designer Adrianne Lobel, based on her father’s stories.

Despite the recent snow, “A Year with Frog and Toad,” cheerfully reminds children and adults that every season offers its own joys and wonders and that spring is always just around the corner.

“A Year with Frog and Toad” runs through March 15 at Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St., Stoneham. For tickets and show times go online at www.stonehamtheatre.org or phone 781-279-2200.

[A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, based on the books of Arnold Lobel. Music by Robert Reale. Lyrics by Willie Reale. Directed by Caitlin Lowans. Choreographer, Ilyse Robbins. Music Director, Mario Cruz, Set Design, Audra Avery. Costume Design, Joanna Murphy. Lighting Design, Chris Fournier. Scenic Artist, Holly McClung. Production Stage Manager, L. Arkansas Light. Starring Edward M. Barker, Steven Barkhiser, Mary Callahan, Matt Spano and Ceit McCaleb Zweil. Musicians: Bill Buonocore, Tim Cote, Rick Copeland, Mick Lewander, Rob Orr and Jeri Sykes.]

Thanks to Chua Ai Lin for the forward from the Humanities and Social Sciences Net online.

H-ASIA
May 10, 2008
On donations in relief of the disaster in Burma/Myanmar
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From: Priti Ramamurthy

Mary Callahan, Assoc Prof, U Washington, is one of a handful of senior
political scientist experts on Burma. She has conducted field research there
for years; she authored the prize-winning book Making Enemies: War & state
building in Burma (Cornell University Press 2003) her advice on sending help
to the Burmese surviving the flood of the Irrawaddy Delta follows:

“A number of friends and colleagues have asked how to help the people of Burma in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. The malevolence of the Burmese government toward their people is incomprehensible. The junta is making it very difficult for foreign relief agencies to get desperately need medical assistance and other supplies to the hundreds of thousands (more likely millions) of victims of the cyclone. International media report that foreign relief workers are not being granted visas. Even if aid personnel can get into the country, existing government regulations are likely to make it difficult for expatriate relief workers to travel very far outside Rangoon.

There are, however, dozens of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Burma that have worked there for years. There are also several hundred local NGOs, which include faith-based organizations (Christian churches and monasteries) and other social service organizations. And finally, UN agencies such as UNICEF and the UN Development Program have staff throughout the country. Most of these organizations have years of experience carrying out disaster relief during both the annual monsoon and fire seasons. Until yesterday, US economic sanctions against Burma made it quite difficult to donate money to non-governmental operations inside the country. As of last
night, the Treasury Department has loosened some of those restrictions at least in regard to international organizations.

The international and local NGOs and the UN agencies already on the ground employ thousands of Burmese professionals and support staff, who – unlike the foreign/expatriate staff – can travel to affected areas. Already, the NGO community has assembled assessment teams (including medical personnel) to go to the Irrawaddy Delta, where upwards of 20,000 are already confirmed dead.

Realistically, in the early stages of this relief operation, it will be the Burmese staff of INGOs, local NGOs and UN agencies who will carry the lion’s share of the burden. They have worked in this aid-hostile environment; have intimate knowledge of how to carry out aid without putting beneficiaries at risk; and are well-placed to identify community needs. When foreign relief operations do finally get access to Burma, it is of the utmost importance that they coordinate with and support these locally-based nongovernmental organizations and UN agencies that understand the complexity of working in Burma.

Both the Burmese government restrictions and US economic sanctions make it very difficult to give money to local NGOs directly, but it is possible to support their work by donating to the international groups that have longstanding partnerships with local NGOs and community-based organizations (including churches and monasteries). The following international organizations are already in the Delta and have launched fundraising campaigns to support broader efforts. All of them have proven track records in Burma, and especially in the Delta.”

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