Wind In The Willows

H'all Things Drama, No Auditions, No Restriction, Just Commitment and Enthusiasm is their motto - raising money for local charities. With this in mind Ha’ll Things Drama have chosen Wind In the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and adapted by Mike Kenner. In the programme notes it says it is believed Kenneth Grahame was inspired to write Toad by his son whom he sadly lost five days before his 20th birthday and Ratty was based upon a friend of his.

The set was very creative given the space they had to use, with the use of camouflage and intricate painted cloth to look like wood. Two makeshift cast spaces for entrance and exit were constructed backstage left and right. Various flat cut outs of boats and cars were used. A scaffold tower was used in various ways  for Toad’s caravan, bedroom, jail and also a train. The piano in the hall also got the treatment and was camouflaged and used as set. A very large picture of Toad was on the back wall and round the room various pictures of different species of toads. A lot of time and effort had been put into this. Art Design was by Anjelique Stevenson-Taylor who also played Chief Weasel.

Costumes were befitting the character the cast played, with Toad all in green and Badger in black and white, while the Magpie was in black and white he also had a dark blue waist-coat. Lovely detail - costume design by Larrissa Grant, who also managed the sound cues.

Virginia Williamson directed and I was astonished to learn that with all the preparation they only do two performances. I would have liked to have seen plates and drinking vessels used instead of miming them - a plate with a very delicious looking chocolate eclair was brought on stage and given to a member of the audience, so it would have been good to actually use plates. The miming of the doors was done well and always shut after opening.

Mark Harrison is in charge of the group’s lighting equipment and was also in the cast playing Badger. Marie Williamson played Otter, Marina Mercer played Rabbit, Tyler Crane played Magpie and Soph Moss played Pheasant. Just a note to speak up, as I did miss some dialogue and although it was a small space, when full of people sound is absorbed and lost.  Mireia Cassou playing Squirrel I thought was a little tentative at first but once she got into her stride was great. Chris Williamson as Fox / understudy for Mole was hilarious in the washer woman scene and the striptease, you could have gone even more over the top – hilarious (you probably heard me laughing?)! Adrian Middleton as Horse and Owl: I have to say that I have never seen an actor inhabit an animal in such a way as Adrian did Horse. He never stopped - it was full commitment, chewing his grass with a fantastic jaw movement. Acting all the time and even not in the scene - well done!

Russell Mansfield played Ratty who was always having to get everyone out of scrapes and be the sensible one - worked well with Toad and Mole. Toad played by Adam Moss, I’m shocked he even has friends but he does and ones that care about him a lot. Adam gave a very melodramatic performance of Toad and I loved when he was confined to the bedroom and rang rings round Ratty -poop-poop! Kyle Briggs-Williams as Mole well, wow! This is Kyle’s first leading role and I am sure there will be many more. His energy and charm on stage were fabulous and his characterisation just right -  excellent!

Thank you To H'all Things Drama for making my guest Kathryn (she won a raffle prize) and I so welcome. Congratulations on Wind in the Willows.

 

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