REVIEW: The Wind in the Willows, Shakespeare North Playhouse
AS panto season gets into full swing, The Wind in the Willows offers something delightfully different
Gentle, minimal and as comforting as the snuggly layers of knits and big coats costuming the cast, the Shakespeare North Playhouse’s festive offering is Toby Hulse’s adaptation of the classic tale.
Less a rock ‘n’ roll panto than a sort of folky one, it combines a talented cast of multi-instrumentalists with jolly song, wholesome adventure, and a well-crafted showdown to bring everything together with a heartwarming ending for riverbank friends Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad.
Movement director Grace Goulding had stepped in, script in hand, to play Ratty on this occasion, a performance of wide-eyed charm that partnered well with Katie Erich’s suitably sweet and naive Mole; the animal pair forge a friendship when the latter takes a chance on exploring life above ground for a change - but isn’t prepared for everything they find.
The Cockpit Theatre proved a naturally good platform for the irrepressible Dean Boodaghians Nolan, whose showboating Mr Toad gave the show a turbo-boost of energy whenever he appeared and mined big laughs.
The cast was completed with the delightfully versatile Jenny Murphy, Bryony Maguire and Oluwalonimi Owoyemi as a variety of squirrels, bunnies, weasels and traditional accompanists as required.
Simon Kenny’s sparse design kept things simple - often little more than two boxes on wheels, transformed into rowboats, cars and cupboards - all the better to stoke the imaginations of the young audience. Julia Samuels’s direction kept a complex amount of action, character swaps and scene changes running flawlessly.
It’s by no means a Christmas story but some excusable liberties are taken to create a festive feel. It’s a fantastic offer for those looking for an atmospheric family show over the holidays without the flamboyant spectacle of traditional panto.
Catch The Wind in the Willows until January 13.
