Mon 30 Sep 02

NATIONAL CANCEL SONDHEIM FROGS

A concert version of Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs , which was due at the National Theatre 7 to 15 Nov 02, has been cancelled.

National Theatre Marketing says, "We announced these concert performances in August but have had now to relinquish the rights to the piece in the light of a full production that is being planned for New York next year. Despite goodwill on all sides and great efforts made to resolve the situation, sadly we have been left with no alternative but to cancel our scheduled performances. We very much regret the disappointment caused."

The Frogs, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove (1974 AD), which is freely adapted from the comedy by Aristophanes (405 BC) was first staged by Yale Repertory Theatre in the university's swimming pool in 1974, Sondheim and Shevelove's take on Aristophanes has the god Dionysus persuading Shaw and Shakespeare to take part in a literary contest. The winner will earn his passage back across the river Styx, with its resident chorus of Frogs.