The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
Adapted for the stage by Alan Bennett
Additional music and lyrics by Jeremy Sams
Directed by Penny Tuerk
July 6th - 23rd, 2002
The Tower Theatre Company performing at the Tower Theatre, Canonbury
Also presented at Montem School, Islington on July 24th, 2002
Cast List
The River Bank
Mole : David Taylor
Rat : John Cornwell
Toad : Robert Reeve
Badger : Brice Pitt
Otter : Michael Allaway
Albert, a horse : Marcus Toulmin-Rothe
Portly, an otter : Alexandra Ley or Jack Patrickson
Hedgehog Herbert : Steven Hyndman
Hedgehog Harriet / Tommy : Lizzie Willis or Sam South
Hedgehog Helen / Billy : Kate Campbell or Ben Patrickson
Rabbit Robert : Jonathan Norris
Rabbit Rose : Vyvian Shaw
Baby Rabbits : Oliver Willis or Katie South, Luke Campbell or William Norris, Freddie Norris
Other Rabbits : Eileen Marner, Henry Chester, Alison Liney, Alexandra Ley
The Wild Wood
Chief Weasel : Martin South
Weasel Norman : Richard Willis
Stoat Gerald : Michael Allaway
Ferret Freda : Anna McNeil
Fox : Karen Walker
Other Weasels : Jonathan Norris, Henry Chester, Steven Hyndman
The Wide World
Parkinson, a car salesman : Henry Chester
Motorist Rupert : Steven Hyndman
Motorist Monica : Anna McNeil
Magistrate : Jonathan Norris
Clerk of the Court : Vyvian Shaw
Policeman : Henry Chester
Gaoler : Marcus Toulmin-Rothe
Gaoler's Daughter : Karen Walker
Washerwoman : Eileen Marner
Train Driver : Jonathan Norris
Ticket Clerk : Vyvian Shaw
Bargewoman : Alison Liney
Gypsy : Steven Hyndman
Production Team
Director : Penny Tuerk
Musical Director : Jonathan Norris
Choreographer : Janet South
Set Designer : Dorothy Wright
Costumes : Kay Perversi
Lighting Designer : Nick Insley
Sound Designer : Stephen Ley
Fight Arranger : Lindsey Gallagher
Associate Director : David Taylor
Stage Manager : Laurence Tuerk
ASMs : Dinah Irvine, Lisa Kelvey, Jenny Hargreaves, Nathalie Lake, Michael Greener, Mary Campbell, Tracey Henshaw, Sheila Burbidge, Ruth Sanderson, Tom Brown,
Denyse Macpherson, Lesley Scarth
Lighting operator : Jacky Devitt
Sound operator : Robert Irvine
Wardrobe : John Stivey, Sheila Burbidge, Celia Reynolds, Elaine Prenzlau
Scenic painting : Steven Hyndman
Set construction : Alan Wilkinson, Ziz Sulkin, Richard Thompson, Jonathan Norris, Eileen Marner, Robert Myer, Keith Syrett, Terry Mathews, Keith Hill, Claire Rice, Mary Benning, Colette Dockery, Jude Chalk, John Morton,
Andy Hind
Music played by :
Jethro Marsh (Violin)
Simon Coderand (Violin)
Colin Guthrie (Keyboards/Guitar)
John Cook (Clarinet/Bass Clarinet)
Malcolm Cottle (Piano Accordion)
Mike Copperwhite (Flute/Alto Flute/Piccolo)
Nick Ridley (Oboe/Cor Anglais)
Paddy Clements (Horn)
Chris Melville (Cornet)
Steve Brewer (Drums)
Review by Claire Davies (Camden New Journal,
11th July 2002)
Cloth napkins and rowing boats, private property and picnics - to watch The Wind in the
Willows is to catch a slice of England when motor cars were a novelty and gentlemen
wore hats. This production embodies this reassuringly cosy country life perfectly; all is
exactly as it should be, there are no shocks or surprises. Every character is portrayed as
larger than life; none more so than the irrepressible Toad, played to great comic effect
by Robert Reeve.
Ratty is nagging and worrisome while wise old Badger tries to steal the friendship of little
Mole. The weasels, replete in top hats and puttees, snigger and grimace behind the
hedgerows as they hatch their plans and steal rabbit children from the sleeping
arms of their mothers.
The stage is small yet there is never the feeling of
overcrowding. The cast moves effortlessly across, around and behind each other
under the superb direction of Penny Tuerk. Toad's caravan, his motor car, a barge, a
train and a boat all appear, complete with honking horns and steam, all disappearing
in and out of the branches of weeping willow on each side of the stage. The National Theatre's
production of this show in the mid-1990s over three successive Christmas is etched on my
mind, and made me think that this play is best seen in winter. Yet this performance shows
that The Wind in the Willows actually makes rather a good summer play.
The dappled patterns of the riverside trees, the climactic garden party at
Toad Hall and Ratty's messing about on the river, all evoke the lazy days of the summer
(wherever they may be).
So before you set off on your holidays get in the mood of the
season and go and see this play.
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame |
|
|
July 6th - 23rd, 2002 |
The Tower Theatre Company performing at the Tower Theatre, Canonbury |
Also presented at Montem School, Islington on July 24th, 2002 | |
|
Cast List
The Wild Wood
The Wide World |
Production Team
|
Review by Claire Davies (Camden New Journal, 11th July 2002)
Cloth napkins and rowing boats, private property and picnics - to watch The Wind in the
Willows is to catch a slice of England when motor cars were a novelty and gentlemen
wore hats. This production embodies this reassuringly cosy country life perfectly; all is
exactly as it should be, there are no shocks or surprises. Every character is portrayed as
larger than life; none more so than the irrepressible Toad, played to great comic effect
by Robert Reeve.
Ratty is nagging and worrisome while wise old Badger tries to steal the friendship of little
Mole. The weasels, replete in top hats and puttees, snigger and grimace behind the
hedgerows as they hatch their plans and steal rabbit children from the sleeping
arms of their mothers.
The stage is small yet there is never the feeling of
overcrowding. The cast moves effortlessly across, around and behind each other
under the superb direction of Penny Tuerk. Toad's caravan, his motor car, a barge, a
train and a boat all appear, complete with honking horns and steam, all disappearing
in and out of the branches of weeping willow on each side of the stage. The National Theatre's
production of this show in the mid-1990s over three successive Christmas is etched on my
mind, and made me think that this play is best seen in winter. Yet this performance shows
that The Wind in the Willows actually makes rather a good summer play.
The dappled patterns of the riverside trees, the climactic garden party at
Toad Hall and Ratty's messing about on the river, all evoke the lazy days of the summer
(wherever they may be).
So before you set off on your holidays get in the mood of the
season and go and see this play.