Watership Down

The novel of ‘Watership Down’ (1972) was made into an animated film in 1978, when the pragmatic view of some country people was summed up by a notice in the window of a local butcher’s shop:  ‘You’ve read the book; you’ve seen the film; now eat the cast’.  So it’s a brave person who would present a play about rabbits to adults in a rural New Forest community, and I was intrigued to discover how it could be successfully brought about, but successful it certainly was.  The solution was that the actors approached the characters as exactly that, as entities with a story worth telling, and by telling their story with conviction, this company of talented players achieved the seeming- impossible.

Sooth-sayer Fiver gave a compelling performance, irritating at first, until we realised that his visions were based in reality; Hazel was a convincingly modest and spiritual leader; Blackberry’s clear narrative style explained rabbit lore and mythology, while his over-excitable nature conveyed the fear and panic of creatures under duress; with his strong voice and grim-reaper status, the Rabbit of Inle was a commanding presence;  El-ahrairah was a kindly father-figure, occasionally tearful;  Bigwig was brave, brawny and benign;  Woundwort was impressively controlling and brutal; Kehaar was a welcome presence, finding the voice perfectly and filling the stage with light and energy.  Other characters played their parts convincingly.

Technically-speaking, this production was deceptively simple, as the projection was of high quality; the blocks and lighting were used to good effect; the hessian backdrop and rustic costumes in earthy colours provided just the right homespun effect.  The use of voiceover and projected animation created a clear distinction between the two colonies and permitted an insight into the thoughts of the unseen characters. 

This production presented a modern classic in a modern way, in a direct and unapologetic style which made it clear and unsentimental.  Well done, Redlynch Players.

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