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Wine time: The Frogs - Southwark Playhouse

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For a show called The Frogs, there isn’t much amphibian activity in the piece. But being a show with music by Stephen Sondheim, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s a critical theatrical piece. But like Sondheim’s final musical playing at the National Theatre, while it may not be a musical that fills you with provocative thoughts, it’s a fast-paced romp through hell and back to save the world for the sake of arts. With rousing choruses, thrilling choreography and plenty of cheap laughs, what more can you want from the theatre? It’s currently playing at the Southwark Playhouse (Borough) . There isn’t much to the plot, except that Dionysus (Dan Buckley), disillusioned by the state of a divided world, and his sidekick and slave, Xanthias (Kevin McHale), cross the river Styx to the underworld to find a great writer who they can return to the world to teach the world about life. He has his mind set on bringing back George Bernard Shaw until he hears the poetry of Shakespeare.  This v...

Music: Daniel Boys

Thanks to a large volcanic ash cloud which stranded Johnnyfox in New York (not that he minded by his tweets), I was lucky to catch Daniel Boys at Pizza on the Park Thursday evening. Daniel has appeared in various shows including Avenue Q and has recently released an album  So Close, that has become very popular...

All of this has given him the opportunity to showcase his talents and charm in the intimate space of Pizza on the Park. It was Daniel, a great band and an audience. An audience that appeared to be mostly very appreciative women. There must be something about his boyish charm, enthusiasm and lovely vocals that drives women crazy. While they weren't throwing an underwear on stage I wondered whether this was simply because they weren't wearing any.

Anyway, Daniel performed mostly on a stool behind a music stand and looked loveable. This might have seemed a bit odd if you were directly in front of him (unless you like singing music stands), but fortunately I was off to the side. What was nice about the performance was his ability to give a fresh interpretation to a number of songs I had heard many times before. And of course he sounded great. I would prefer if artists could avoid the songs of John Bucchino and go for something lighter and fresher sometimes, but I guess you can't have everything.

Daniel stayed around signing autographs and his album is a treat. But so is seeing him live. This series has sold out but he is appearing at other venues later in the year... Pizza on the Park closes this June and while I will miss the eighties decor, I suppose all good things have to come to an end... As the audioboos suggest, while the men at my table weren't about to throw their underwear, good times were had by all. And it wasn't just the wine talking (hic).

Listen!
via AudioBoo

Listen!
via AudioBoo

Listen!
via AudioBoo

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