HOT DAMN! It’s the Loveland Frog! is filled with a hilarious cast of characters, from the policeman forever ashamed of his Frogman sighting, to the kooky grandpa in search of the Frogman, to the outcast siblings running a bootleg beer business by the river, all viewed through the relatively “normal” characters in the show: teens Luke Honeywell and his girlfriend Dharla Barkley. The passion coming from the show’s production is absolutely palpable, from the acting, music, and writing.
As Luke Honeywell journeys to find his peepaw, who saw the Frogman years ago and was thus outcast from the town, his girlfriend Dharla helps him work to gain support from the local sheriff - her father. Shaken from his past experience with the Frogman, Chief Barkley is hesitant to help, but eventually obliges. Following clues from The Old Woman, they, alongside a quirky cast, search through the woods, and adventure through a moonshine distillery, a canoe chase, a Native American folklore puppet retelling, a country wedding, an emotional bike ride, and eventually, a confrontation with the ever-elusive Frogman. In short, HOT DAMN! is a wild ride from start to finish.
The characters in the musical are made all the more captivating because they feel like exaggerated versions of real people you’d meet around Ohio. The entire musical is a heavily dramatized version of Loveland. That’s the show’s unique genius: it weaves local legends and lore into the fabric of the show, while still feeling modern and unique. It invites the audience to share in one massive inside joke. The audience didn’t go more than ten minutes without laughing!
The musical uses settings we are all familiar with such as the Loveland Castle and the Little Miami River, and elevates them to feel truly fantastical. Hillbilly weddings at the Loveland Castle and bootleg beer by the river create a blend of uniquely midwestern relatability and humor.
The soundtrack adds another layer of familiarity and enjoyment to the show. The live band, composed of five musicians, creates a personal feel and emphasizes the feeling of community within Loveland’s own small, cozy theater. Not only that, but the music itself was delightful. Composed of a banjo, keyboard, acoustic guitar, violin, and bass, the band mixes sounds of classic Ohio bluegrass and modern orchestra. The musical numbers were also unexpectedly good - they sparked laughter, emotion, and genuine enjoyment as they chronicled the events of the musical.
In the back row of the Loveland Stage Company, we found that our expectations were not only met but exceeded. The musical felt like a common uniting factor of all the Lovelanders gathered together in our tiny theater. Those of us from The Roar and every other citizen of Loveland shared and celebrated the eccentric story of our town through HOT DAMN!. Loveland is our home - and while everyday life can render it mundane, we should remember to look around and appreciate our charming little town and the community, including our very own Frogman, within it.