Scene - Blogs - Preview of a Review The Frogs at the Nightingale Theater

Preview of a Review: "The Frogs" at the Nightingale Theater
Published: 2/18/2012 2:23 PM
Last Modified: 2/18/2012 2:23 PM

Aristophanes’ comedy “The Frogs” has been around since 405 B.C., but it receives a bit of modernization in the production that the Midwestern Theater Troupe opened Thursday at the Nightingale Theater.

This new twist is the translation of the original Greek text by Tulsan Amy Page, which that tries to bring an edgier, more outrageous tone to this ancient story of drunken gods, dead poets, bizarre journeys and odd contests.

In that, Page’s translation more than succeeds. The humor and language gets a bit blue, and wisecracks about sexual proclivities and bodily functions abound.

But the show succeeds in other ways, as well. It tells the story of the play clearly, and stages each scene with the sort of inventiveness, energy and sly humor that is a hallmark of this company’s productions.

The Nightingale gang knows very well that theater is inherently artificial, especially when it tells stories about boat rides to Hades accompanied by a chorus of frogs singing, “Brekekekéx-koáx-koáx!” They don’t try to mask that artifice — it’s part of the charm, lending an air of childlike glee even to those productions that are (like “The Frogs”) definitely for adults only.

Read the full review Monday. "The Frogs" plays at 8 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 23-25 at the Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. Fourth St. Tickets are $10 at the door, cash only.

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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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Archive

Past Articles By James D. Watts Jr

2/15/2013		'Concept/OK' exhibit ends Saturday
2/14/2013		Symphony to host piano soloist
2/14/2013		Broadway tours bring 'Shrek,' improv musical to Tulsa area this weekend
2/14/2013		Arts roundup: Improv reigns at several upcoming theater events
2/14/2013		'Lion King' returns to Tulsa PAC June 4
2/12/2013		Review: Signature Symphony reprises '100 Years of Oklahoma Music'
2/11/2013		Tulsa Symphony's concert salutes diverse American music
2/10/2013		Cherokee artist weaves messages into baskets
2/10/2013		Tesla Quartet set for Tulsa residency next week with variety of activities
2/10/2013		Jim Murphy wins 2013 Anne Zarrow Award
2/10/2013		LBJ chronicler Robert Caro to speak at TU on Tuesday
2/9/2013		Theater review: Playhouse makes "Barefoot in the Park" believable

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