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The story is about Toad of Toad of Hall who is persistent in riding the fastest mode of transport, creating havoc among his animal community. We watch Rat, Mole and Badger attempt to stop Toad becoming a serious hazard. The musical takes us on a journey through the escapades that ensue, from the River to the Wild Wood.
In my eyes, it is the set that is the true star of this production. It is wonderfully designed by Peter McKintosh, transforming from the majestic River to Mole's sweet, cosy home covered in snow and then again into the deepest, darkest part of the Wild Wood. Toad Hall was also superb, with acute attention to detail right down to the painting of Toad's mother in his bedroom. The lighting and set design combined create a beautiful montage of the passing seasons and resulted in a truly magical atmosphere. |
Every character was played with an abundance of charm, especially the twee, curious Mole (played by Craig Mather). All the actors and actresses played their characters very well - despite the script not giving them very much to work with. Special mention has to go to Natalie Woods as the Horse, as well as the Field Mice who were endearing and the Hedgehog Family were very amusing, from their song about crossing the road right down to the way they walked.
The songs (of which none were very memorable) were entertaining and Simon Lipkin as Rat sang beautifully. I did find, however, that in the First Act the songs jumped around from one to the other in a rather disjointed manner. The choreography was intensely energetic but was never particularly eye-catching or "special". However, this musical is aimed at younger families, and I guess that if you are little you aren't looking for something intricate - you would want something fun and upbeat which is exactly what this is. |
At times it was a bit too pantomime-esque for me and the excessive energy did seem a little forced, but I am 14 and this musical was aimed at a younger age group (and my Granny!). The musical was light-entertainment. It stayed entirely true to the book and I couldn't help but smile the whole way through (especially during the spectacular finale!) Overall, it was uplifting, fun and full of charm and would make for an excellent family day out! |
The Wind in The Willows has an AMAZING ticket offer- all children (under 16) go free when accompanied by a full paying adult! Visit https://www.windinthewillowsthemusical.com/kidsgofree for more details. It is also part of Kids Week which is the whole of August. The Palladium has undergone renovation and is absolutely beautiful, with extremely comfortable seats as well, in my opinion!