Toad of Toad Hall

Some twenty years after Kenneth Grahame wrote his novel “The Wind in the Willows” the playwright A. A. Milne adapted part of it for the stage which he entitled “Toad of Toad Hall”. This was in 1929 and although the language is reminiscent of that period and reflects the pastoral life enjoyed by many at that time, Grahame’s dislike of the adoption by the public of many new-fangled ideas and gadgets in their search for progress and satisfaction still appears to be quite prevalent today.   In order to promulgate his views, he identified creatures from the river bank and nearby woodlands, attributing to them human thoughts and feelings. In this play the four principal characters are the naive Mole (played by Briony Sparrow), who has much to learn about life, Rat (played by Tony Hine), a keen supporter of the status quo, Badger (played by Gus Sparrow), the epitome of steadfastness and Toad (played by Lynn Gray) who can’t wait for the next new item or idea to arrive. The large supporting cast contributed much in their roles and it was heartening to see so many young people involved. The scenery and props were most appropriate, as were the innovative costumes; the make-up was excellent. Although first-night nerves caused a few problems, the efficient prompt came to the rescue and the overall result was a charming production on which a huge amount of care and attention had been lavished.  Absolutely delightful!

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