The Wind in the Willows
★★★★☆ Charming
C Aurora (Venue 6): Wed 31 July – Sun 25 Aug 2024
Review by Rebecca Mahar
Adapted and Directed by Kate Stephenson, C Theatre’s The Wind in the Willows is a charming, delightful retelling of Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s novel.
Opening to a band of anthropomorphic animal friends cleaning up Toad Hall, the play relates the misadventures of Mr. Toad (David Virgo) over the previous year, as his obsession over motorcars, and his terrible driving lands him in hot water with the police, and Toad Hall is taken over by a band of villainous weasels, ferrets, and stoats while he languishes in gaol.
Flossy Fox and David Virgo. Pic: C Theatre.
Although that summary may seem a bit dark, the tone of the play is largely bright and upbeat, introducing each of its characters through flashbacks leading up to the opening scene: Mole (Clara Louise Roberts) skiving off from spring cleaning to meet and go boating with Ratty (Flora Ashton); Badger (Flossy Fox) avoiding company at her home in the Wild Wood, and Otter (Katie Gourlav) cheerfully gatecrashing a picnic.
perfectly cast
The company of Riverbankers are perfectly cast, and well-matched by Mary Jesnik as Chief Weasel, who takes grudging part in their reminiscences after being captured in the fight to retake Toad Hall. Atmospheric soundscapes and periodic bursting into song by the company add aural richness to the production, and the actors’ physical precision in both their characters and the miming of locations such as Ratty’s boat is exceptional.
Targeted towards children, the script is simple and not too scary, without talking down to its audience. Adults with fond memories of Toad Hall will enjoy this production of The Wind in the Willows as well, as it easily persuades one to slip back into a world of make-believe.
Running time: one hour (no interval)
C Aurora (Main House), Lauriston Halls, 28 Lauriston Street EH3 9DJ (Venue 6)
Wednesday 31 July – Sunday 25 August 2024
Daily (not 12): 12.40pm.
Details and tickets at: Book here
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Clara Louise Roberts and Flora Ashton. Pic: C Theatre
ENDS
