Some of the most beloved characters of children’s literature are heading to the London Palladium when a new version of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS opens there in June, featuring Edwardian river and woodland creatures Ratty, Mole and Badger and of course there high spirited friend, Toad.
It’s the story of how a mole abandons spring cleaning his house to share a picnic with a water rat who introduces him to Toady, a local aristocrat who lives in Toad Hall. He’s an exasperating friend to have as he keeps throwing himself into a series of hobbies and fads which he abandons as soon as something else captures his interest. Things start well with a caravanning trip but toad is transfixed by a motor car they meet and his motoring exploits soon land him in gaol. Meanwhile a gang of delinquent ferret, stoats and weasels plot to steal Toad Hall. Ratty and Mole team up with a kindly, if stern, badger to try to help and it all concludes in a daring prison break and a battle for the stately home. Along the way you’ll meet silly rabbits and adorable Christmas carolling mice, alongside a few humans too.
If that all sounds very silly, it unashamedly is but I experienced the joy it brings children first hand a few years ago when my theatre company’s education team went it some tough schools to encourage them to enact parts of the story. I thought they’d encounter hostility from the urban kids but I was delighted to observe how these troubled youngsters flourished when allowed to play at being naughty animals. It was as if they suddenly had permission to embrace their childhood for a few hours and to stop trying to be little adults. It was very moving.
Anyway, back to the Palladium who recently hosted a lavish press launch for the new musical of all this.
Reviews for the show from around the country, it’s recently been touring, have been very enthusiastic and the images journalists were shown of the set being constructed and in use suggest it’s going to be colourful and spectacular.
Comedian Rufus Hound who plays Toad, with a bright green beard, was on hand to lead the company in a few of the musical numbers and very catchy they were too. They’re by the song writing team of Styles and Drew, big favourites in the West End thanks to the new songs they contributed to the classic scores of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, MARY POPPINS and HALF A SIXPENCE and their much loved original musicals such as HONK and BETTY BLUE EYES. The adaptation is by Julian Fellowes, best known for writing hit TV series DOWNTON ABBEY and recently the script for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest success SCHOOL OF ROCK.
With pedigree like this you can safely book tickets confident that this will be a five star show that your family of all ages will enjoy.
Thomas Michael Voss, one of our ballet critics, is also an award nominated choreographer.