By CLIVE BARNES

April 14, 2003 -- I was not born yesterday - nor, come to think of it, were my children. As a result, I approach a Broadway musical aimed at a young audience with the wariness of an archaeologist probing a dig.

Children and their tastes don't change much from generation to generation - witness the tenacious hold still exerted by such icons as Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh and Dr. Seuss.

The late Arnold Lobel was a children's writer without the sensitivity of A.A. Milne or the divine craziness of Dr. Seuss. And, truth be told, he was more than a little twee.

But "A Year With Frog and Toad," a new musical based on his works, cuts down on the twee and loads up on the charm.

Having started life with the Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis, moved off-Broadway for a sold-out run at the New Victory Theater, and opened last night at the Cort Theatre, "Frog and Toad" looks good enough to eat - particularly if you have a sweet tooth.

This musical - with nicely semi-jazzy-kiddy music by Robert Reale and a neat book and very cute lyrics by Willie Reale - is a good deal closer to the generous sensibility of "Sesame Street" than the cookie-cutter mechanics of the Disney machine.

Lobel's daughter, Adrianne, a distinguished set designer, has absolutely excelled here with a soft blaze of childlike prettiness.

Martin Pakledinaz's adorable costumes, which are smartly more anthropomorphic than animal, let the nature of his amphibians, birds, squirrels and a particularly lovable snail glint through amusingly.

Director David Petrarca has staged the piece with just the right pacing and energy, while the dances by Daniel Pelzig prove attractive, particularly when they adopt a gentle vaudeville zip.

Of course, a show like this cannot be much better than its performers permit, and the five actors are all blissfully talented - Frog (Jay Goede), Toad (Mark Linn-Baker), and three others (Danielle Ferland, Jennifer Gambatese and Frank Vlastnik).

The off-handedly sincere Goede and the lovably diffident Linn-Baker (he's the husband of Adrianne Lobel, who is also one of the lead producers, but, hey, don't knock nepotism if it works) achieve wonders, with their convincing depiction of friendship between Frog and Toad that's never mawkish.

So will your children like it? It's worth a try - and at least you'll have a pretty good time, too.

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD At the Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Call (212) 239-6200.

Snagged from:
NYPost.com