One turns to Kenneth Grahame’s masterpiece novel and adaptations of it for Edwardian nostalgia and that’s what this production delivers in spades. Julian “Downton” Fellowes provides an ungimmicky book and the songs from that talented Half a Sixpence duo, George Styles and Anthony Drewe have terrific fun with a range of song styles from Gilbert and Sullivan and Vaughan Williams to Flanders and Swann and Glam Rock. The pace never flags, especially in the “We’re taking over the hall” led by the charismatic Neil McDermott as a raffish Chief Weasel, with opens the second act with vibrant panache.
Rufus Hound, complete with green hair hams up the bumptious, poop-pooping, enthusiastic toad with entertaining warmth. Simon Lipkin delights as the ever-decent Ratty and Craig Mather is feistily innocent and sensible as Mole. Gary Wilmot’s gruff, militaristic Badger is an engaging contrast. But the real star of this show is the polished, energetic ensemble work and Aletta Collin’s fast and furious choreography – the way she uses every individual and director Rachel Kavanaugh’s use of talented all singing, all dancing actors in small roles is reminiscent of Cats. Peter McKintosh’s sets, based on imaginatively contrived circular apertures makes nice use of both the Palladium’s huge stage and of its revolve.
It’s a show with masses of charm. Of course, one person’s charm is another one’s “tweeness” but, for me, this show stops well short of the latter. See it, of for no other reason for the Hedgehog song, the swallow trio and the tour de force finale (no spoilers here). I think this hugely enjoyable, unthreatening The Wind in the Willows will run for a long time and be a hit with school parties and families.
Review by Susan Elkin