Whimsy, heart color theater's first family show

Musical inspired by children's books

Edward M. Barker, who plays Toad, rehearses with Steven Barkhimer, who is cast as Frog, in preparation for the Stoneham Theatre production of the musical ''A Year with Frog and Toad.'' The show is suitable for all ages.

The set for the Stoneham Theatre's production of "A Year with Frog and Toad" looks like a jungle.

"It's really just grass," says designer Audra Avery. "It's a 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' set, because we're looking at everything from the perspective of the frog and toad."

Not only does it feel like the performers are in the land of the giants, Avery has also set the scene on the Boston Common, with the city skyline in the background and appropriate Boston references, including a Charlie Card that Frog and Toad use as a sled.

"There's a whimsy to the stories that we're trying to capture," says director Caitlin Lowans. "This is the first time Stoneham Theatre has done a family show, and we want it to appeal to adults as much as kids. There is no reason to dumb anything down."

As Steve Barkhimer, who plays Frog, and Edward M. Barker, who plays Toad, stand at the piano to sing through the score at the first rehearsal, the two actors, who hadn't worked together before, fall into an easy rhythm together.

"You're always a little nervous at the first rehearsal," says Barkhimer, "because you're aware of someone else's work but you don't know what kind of expectations they have. But it's hard to have your guard up when you're singing a song about how your friendship makes you happy."

Barkhimer and Barker admit they weren't familiar with the Arnold Lobel stories when they got the call to audition. "I went to the children's room at the library, sat in one of their little plastic chairs, and read through the 'Frog and Toad' books," says Barkhimer.

"They are charming in the best sense. It's not jaded humor," he says, "there's no edge or irony, but adults will be laughing, too."

Lobel's four books chronicle the very low-key adventures of two friends, which the musical frames within one year: waking up from hibernation, planting seeds, going swimming, making cookies, and waiting for mail to arrive.

The stories may be simple, says Barker, but they're never saccharine. "At first I was worried that it was going to be 'cutesy,' " he says, "but it's really very poignant, and comes across as an unadorned story of friendship. The things they do for each other are as simple as raking their friend's yard, and yet they come across as the most sincere gifts."

Transforming the stories into a musical was a family affair. Adrianne Lobel, the author's daughter, designed the set for the production that began off-Broadway and then moved onto Broadway in 2004, and her husband, Mark Linn-Baker, played Toad. The music, lyrics, and book by brothers Robert and Willie Reale, have a jazzy feel, says music director Mario Cruz, and reflect Adrianne Lobel's comment to the composers that her father listened to ragtime and jazz when he was writing the stories.

"They're not show tunes in the traditional sense," says Cruz, "but the music really swings. The songs have the perfect, lighthearted feel that fits the characters. They really help tell the story."

Barkhimer, who has an extensive resume in area theaters, including North Shore Music Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, and Stoneham, says he's nervous because, although he's written and performed incidental music for several Shakespeare productions, he hasn't performed in a musical in several years.

"It's scary being in a room with pros," he says, turning to Barker and Mary Callanan, one of the area's best Broadway belters, who plays several of the woodland creatures with whom Frog and Toad interact.

Callanan says she was impressed with director Lowans's choices for the leads.

"I think it would have been easy to make the characters childish," she says, "but with Ed and Steve you have two grown-ups. Toad is still skittish, and Frog is the calming influence, but somehow it seems more believable when they're more like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby or Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They feel like they have a little history."

Barker, who just completed a workshop of a new show called "Tin Pan Alley Rag" for the Roundabout Theatre in New York, says he didn't realize his role would have so much personality.

"Toad is definitely neurotic, and self-conscious, but one of the funniest and most moving songs is 'Getta Loada Toad,' which has the chorus, 'Toad looks funny in a bathing suit.' It's silly, but also something everyone can relate to. I think that's the heart of the show," says Barker. "It's about the spirit of being open to others."

Terry Byrne can be reached at trbyrne@aol.com.