Local students learned about acceptance and inclusion during opera performance, ‘The Frog King’
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
The kids of Trevose Day School and Neshaminy Montessori recently learned a valuable lesson in the art of friendship. As long as someone has a kind heart, it doesn’t matter what they look like…even if they’re green, slimy and eat flies for dinner.
Acceptance, promises and self-reflection were the key themes of the schools’ third annual opera The Frog King, which took place on Thursday, June 7, and Friday, June 8, inside the nextdoor barn. All students, from the 2-year-olds to the fifth-graders, practiced for weeks, excitedly awaiting the chance to show off their talents to loved ones.
“Every recess has become a rehearsal,” said head of school, Gwynne Frischmann.
Created by the schools’ former music teacher Charis Bean Duke, The Frog King began by introducing the young King, played by Joey Milillo, and his friend Heinrich, played by Alex Kohmann.
From the moment the two boys appeared, the audience was transported to a magical, woodsy world that could’ve easily housed Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. With Duke on keys, Susan Spevak on flute and Annie Durham on violin, the light, whimsical background music lent itself perfectly to the detailed, outdoor scenery painted by teacher Jordan Ramsey.
It was quickly evident that the King wasn’t the nicest royal in this fictional land. While he and Heinrich were drinking from a well, an old woman approached, asking for some water. Rather than assist the frail, thirsty stranger, the King rudely refused. Unfortunately, he messed with the wrong lady.
The old woman, played by Valerie Snitko, was actually an evil witch. To teach the King a lesson, she transformed him into a “green, slimy and lumpy” frog, a spell that could only be broken when the newly-dubbed Frog King found someone to be his friend.
Donning a glittering green cape crafted by costume designer Erika Duszny, Milillo was joined onstage by a horde of “Frogs,” played by the younger students, who performed “Hello Frog!” As the music of Duke, Spevak and Durham became more intense, with the kids hopping around in harmony, the Frog King’s awful new reality became clear. Milillo sang the touching “I Thought My Life Was Full of Spice,” reflecting on how if only he was a little nicer to the witch, he wouldn’t be trapped as an amphibian.
The Frog King was then swarmed with more new, unwanted friends as the little ones of Trevose Day School appeared in three groups. Guided by their teachers, the “Crickets,” “Mosquitoes” and “Fireflies” performed simple yet adorable choreography, all wearing antennas to exude an insect vibe.
The second half of The Frog King introduced the Princess, whose ego (if possible) may have been bigger than the King’s. Stella Tirendi absolutely shined in the role, instantly portraying the sort of character audiences love to hate.
“I’m so lovely can’t you tell, can’t you tell,” she sang while brushing her hair.
It was clear the Princess’s life had been privileged and devoid of hardship…at least until that point. While playing with her golden ball in the forest, she accidentally dropped her prized possession down the well, the same one the King was cursed by earlier on.
The Princess’s wailing of “boo hoo hoo” caught the attention of the Frog King, who offered to fetch the ball on one condition — she had to take him to her castle and be his friend. Though she agreed, she revoked the promise moments later, running away and abandoning him in the forest. But the Frog King wasn’t about to let the spoiled girl have the last word.
Determined to get back to his human form, he hopped his way to her castle to explain everything to the royal court. Thankfully, the Princess’s father, played by Braedon Rosato, was much fairer in his judgment and insisted she keep her promise to befriend the Frog King. During the night, while the Frog King slept in her pristine bed, the Princess experienced an epiphany as she realized how cruel she acted.
In true Beauty and the Beast fashion, she expressed to the Frog King her wish to be his friend, despite his appearance. As soon as she did, he transformed back into a human King. Naturally, the two lived happily ever after.
Though The Frog King played out as a traditional fairy tale, the underlying messages of friendship and inclusion reigned strong, something Duke was mindful of when crafting the opera. In time, the lines and lyrics will fade from the students’ memories, but hopefully they’ll remember the impact a little bit of kindness can have. ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
