Rob Lake, left, and Kermit the Frog pose for a portrait in New York.
Rob Lake, left, Fozzie Bear, Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Gonzo and Animal star in "Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets" on Broadway.

NEW YORK – The reviews are in for Kermit the Frog’s Broadway debut, and critics are saying he’s ribbiting.

The amphibious A-lister is now appearing alongside members of the Muppet gang in “Rob Lake Magic,” which ends its truncated New York run Nov. 16 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street). Over the course of the 80-minute show, Gonzo shoots out of a cannon, Fozzie performs stand-up, and Kermit assists Lake with a mystifying card trick.

“I’m a frog and I do not blink my eyes, but I still don’t know how he does it,” Kermit shrugs, seated for a joint interview with Lake on a recent afternoon.

While the Muppets are hanging backstage, Lake pulls in audience volunteers for an array of wow-worthy stunts, from sawing a woman in half to linking strangers’ wedding rings.

“My show takes the audience on a journey of what magic means to me,” Lake says. “My journey in magic started even before I knew what magic was by watching the Muppets,” who embody “creativity, imagination and wonder.”

Kermit and Lake tell us more about making the leap to Broadway:

Kermit, how has this experience with “Rob Lake Magic” been different than other projects that the Muppets have worked on?

Kermit: For most things we've done, it is wall-to-wall Muppet mayhem: chickens and rats and bears nonstop. But for “Rob Lake Magic,” the Muppets are just there to help with a couple magic tricks. It's really more of a guest appearance. But it's so fun to be part of a real Broadway show.

Who do you think is the better magician: Rob or Gonzo?

Kermit: Oh, come on! They're both so different. Rob is a professional; he is a master illusionist and does amazing tricks. And Gonzo, he likes to do all sorts of death-defying, crazy stunts.

Rob, there is so much audience interaction throughout the show. What’s been one of your most memorable encounters?

Lake: I like to bring the audience into the magic onstage. It makes it more impossible that way, even for the harsher skeptics. Every show, Kermit and I invite a celebrity surprise guest to join us, and we've had some amazing people: Penn & Teller, Punkie Johnson, Laura Benanti, Christopher Sieber. They’re not in on the magic, so their reactions are as authentic as can be.

Miss Piggy, Rowlf and Animal are also part of the show. Although, I didn’t see Statler and Waldorf up in the boxes …

Lake: A certain bear requested to keep them out of the building.

Do you have a favorite preshow ritual?

Kermit: I do this one little thing: I say, “Mama made me mash my mosquitoes. Mama made me mash my mosquitoes. …” I say it a bunch of times and then I’m ready to go.

What’s your dressing room like?

Kermit: My dressing room is nice and cozy. I’ve got one of those little water features that just dribbles water out, which is comforting. It’s perfect for a frog like me. But on the other hand, Miss Piggy’s dressing room – every square inch is packed with clothes and accessories. It’s crazy, but that’s Miss Piggy.

Lake: She’s kind of taken over backstage.

You and Miss Piggy have been on and off for quite a while now, and the people want to know: How are things going with you guys?

Kermit: We get this question a lot. Piggy and I are friends, and we have been for a really long time now. We see each other almost every day, especially now when we're doing the show, and we get along great. But beyond that, I'm sorry, you're not going to get the scoop on anything. A frog’s got to have a little privacy.

It was worth a shot.

Kermit: Yeah, good try. Good try.

What are your guys’ favorite things to do when you’re not working?

Lake: The weather's been amazing, so I've been running in Central Park a lot. I've even seen you over there a few times.

Kermit: Yeah, I love Central Park. I’ve got a lot of friends here and I’ll spend an afternoon hopping around the city. Sometimes I go to a museum, try out a new restaurant, or I just sit around the park and frog-watch a little bit.

Kermit, you've inspired so many people to follow their dreams and be kind to one another. What's your message this holiday season?

Kermit: Take a moment to be in the moment; really enjoy the holidays. It's so easy to just let life pass you by. Hopefully, friends and family can get together and make memories.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kermit shuts down Miss Piggy dating question, says 'a frog's got to have a little privacy'

Reporting by Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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