By Beverly Harvey

Published: April 16, 2008

Toad and Frog are true friends — through thick and thin.

The two amphibious buddies do everything together. They share cookies and tea. They play in the snow. And they sometimes disagree. That’s what friends do.

The national tour of “A Year With Frog and Toad,” an IntraMusic Theatricals production and part of The Arts Association of East Alabama 2007-2008 Adventure Series for school-age audiences, opened Wednesday at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts.

The play is based on the award-winning Toad and Frog series of books written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel in the 1970s.

Four performances of an abbreviated version of the Tony Award-winning musical production were scheduled for students in kindergarten through second grade throughout Lee County, with two shows each Wednesday and today.

The play opens with Frog and Toad preparing for hibernation and the change of the season. As they sleep, the two pals are together in their dreams. A cast of five — Jon Satrom as Frog, Will Cohen as Toad, Tommy Labanaris as Snail, Leanne Consalvo as Turtle and Kara Schwartz as Mouse — play all of the animals in the dream sequences.

The on-stage antics and innocent moments of Frog and Toad depict a slice of a young child’s life that audience members of all ages can relate to in any relationship, Labanaris said Wednesday after the opening performance.

The two friends sing and dance as they share experiences, imaginations and feelings that a young audience can relate to, he said.

At the beginning of the play, a modest Toad does not want his friends to see him in his swimsuit. The others poke fun at his moment of embarrassment, singing, “Get a load of Toad. He’s funny.”

Later, Frog tells a story about being lost in the woods without his parents when he was younger. Frog is scared and fears being gobbled up by a giant frog who eats children for dessert. “I don’t wish to end up a meal,” Frog said.

The musical also helps teach children about the lessons of friendship throughout its ups and downs, Satrom said Wednesday between performances.