The Wind in the Willows

LOS has such a richly deserved reputation for regularly staging top notch shows that I was counting down the days until I could see this well loved story of river folk with eagerness. LOS regularly use John Harries-Rees as their director and Colin Copestake as musical director and both are immensely experienced, dedicated, talented and creative. John's version of this production was marvellous and magical, in fact!  The musical score for this show was painstakingly adapted by Colin and by Roger Swift from the West End production from two years ago.

This famous story by Kenneth Grahame, which has delighted generations of children and is now 110 years old, was adapted by author AA Milne into "Toad of Toad Hall" which was the catalyst for its rise to legendary fame.

The spacious Playhouse stage was used to the utmost and marvellous effect to show the various scenes; the spring countryside, river with riverbank, Toad Hall, Wild Wood, Courtroom, Toad's prison cell, Mole's house and others too.   Aided by Stuart Vaughan and his team on sound and by Richard Pike and his team on lighting, the stage effects were superbly real. Much intense planning and detail had clearly been given to the illusion of reality and the technical side of this show was something to behold. Technical manager Richard Coveney, stage manager Sarah Wood, deputy SM Jo Epps, assistant SMs Amanda Elsbury-Quinn and Lisa Waugh, plus the ample and efficient stage crew deserved high praise!

Choreographer Louise E Wilson set her company of dancers, ensemble and a number of charming children - hedgehogs, mice, etc. - some innovative and well carried out routines.

Costumes were well fitted, appropriate with a welcome lack of overdone, actual animal costumes for the main characters, with excellent make-up and accessories being sufficient to make all characters believable. I thought the children's costumes particularly charming and delightful. A team of painstaking ladies were responsible for various animal costumes - Michele Jordan (heads, ears and tails designer and creator), Sarah B (children's), Sharon McElroy (squirrels) and Brenda Kent (Badger and Stag) gave their talents and Judith Kelly, assisted by Kate Fryer on wardrobe ensured all were well fitted and splendidly effective.

The music was always supportive of the players, not overpowering them at all. I was pleased to hear so many pleasant singing voices too.

A top drawer principal cast throughout ensured that the audience thoroughly believed in the reality of all the animals.

Robert Jordan was immense as Toad; pig headed, a petrol head to his toes, or rather to his magnificent moustache. Robert brought stagecraft supreme to this performance, timing, Olivieresque diction, stage presence galore and gave a performance of awe!

Tom Paine as Rat (water rat), Ben Horsburgh as the clever Badger, Claire Aston as the worried Mrs Otter, Nicola Joyce as her kidnapped and imprisoned daughter Portia and Chris Poplett as the bad Chief Weasel all gave top class performances too. A special mention for Daniel Burns who played the emollient Mole to absolute perfection. Between them all they underpinned this production.

All other principal characters did themselves proud and with a numerous company of countryside and Wild Wood creatures, together with the charming children, this was a production at which to wonder.

The essential daily battle merely to survive and to enjoy being a close part of the natural environment was evident throughout.   The slide into Badger's home, rowing the boat across the lake, the fear of the Wild Wood and its evil creatures were just a few of the constant reminders of how simply surviving was an achievement.

I cannot find a single fault with the whole show and this is something I have not previously written this year!

A word for the well set out and comprehensive programme, including a welcome full page about NODA. As a NODA Rep I am pleased to see the programme advertise forthcoming shows from other local societies.   LOS regularly do this and it shows a generosity of spirit and wider appreciation of the role of local theatre. It will be some achievement though if any of these forthcoming shows equal this one. LOS, you have raised the bar to a very high level with "Wind in the Willows". I cannot wait for your "Oklahoma" next Autumn!   Please take another bow all of you - you richly deserve it!

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