The Wind In The Willows reviewed
Toby Hulse's adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic story, with incidental music specially written by Simon Slater, cleverly combined many of the well-known episodes of the tale for presentation by the six actors doubling as musicians.
Howard Coggins was suitably egotistical as Toad, never heading the warnings of Philip Buck (Ratty), Naomi Sheldon (Mole) and Steve Watts (Badger) as they struggled to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Jack Beale and Lauren Storer played a host of other characters the quartet met during the course of their journeys. This type of entertainment is essentially aimed at the younger age group and they were well represented at the performance I attended. It is a credit to the writers and the cast that the children in the audience were completely absorbed in the storyline, listening and watching the action in complete silence (except, of course, when it was necessary to boo the villains!).
Naturally, the adults in the audience joined in with gusto too, indicating another success for the Watermill's festive season.
The production runs until Saturday.
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 06 Jan 12
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