THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. To 5 March.

Tour

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
by Kenneth Grahame adapted by Steve Richards

Bloomsbury Theatre To 15 January then tour to 5 March 2005
Mon-Sun various dates 11qm 1.30pm 2.30pm 5pm 6.30pm no performance 1, 10 Jan
Runs 1hr 30min One interval

TICKETS: 020 7388 8822 (Bloomsbury performances)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 21 December

A breezy account lacking the full force of the best adaptations.SPLATS' production is a curious hybrid. It is a play tricked out pantomime elements. That's usual enough at this time of year, but the story-telling suffers and has other problems too. That's no fault of Katy Bartrop who crops up pleasantly on occasion to open the story or move it on. Her presence also points up how male a tale this Edwardian story is.

As a play, Steve Richards' adaptation has intriguing moments but, while covering Kenneth Grahame's story in outline, doesn't let the characters breathe. The start is fine; a big book titled The Wind in the Willows' standing amid realistic rural scenery is opened to reveal a screen. This is used for projections: a diagram of the terrain, animations of Toad's various cars taking the swift road to ruin. At times projections mix with live action, showing Toad proudly at the wheel before disaster strikes.

But in only some 70 minutes' playing time a lot has to be sacrificed. All the main characters are played well enough, Thomas Garvey's timid Mole, Alex Dower as the more confident, optimistic Rat, Robert Eliot's bluff Badger. And, of course, Neil Gore's pompously assured Toad.

But the characters stay remote because script and action are sketchy. It only takes half the time (and several fewer actors) than Alan Bennett's adaptation, but lacks the sense of knowing these characters well enough to be concerned for them, while action sequences like the expulsion of the Weasels from Toad Hall lack the clarity and detail to be exciting.

It's these evil Weasels who come off worst. Hampered as villains by having to double under the guise of travelling musicians stationed one side of the stage, they're also lumbered with the panto villains' Oh yessing and Oh noing at the audience and a couple of songs that seem to test rather than exploit the voice while possessing nothing distinctive in melody or rhythm.

Not an A-grade version then, to put beside A Bennett, or AA Milne, though with a clutch of decent performances and masks, not to be entirely sneezed at either.

Narrator/Weasel/Gaoler's Daughter: Katy Bartrop
Ratty: Alex Dower
Badger: Robert Eliot
Mole: Thomas Garvey
Mr Toad/Weasel: Neil Gore
Chief Weasel/Otter: Neil Sheffield

Director: Steve Richards
Designer: Colin Winslow
Lighting: Emma Chapman
Musical Director: Neil Gore
Choreographer: Heather Habens
Animation: Niki Gibbs
Book design: Alex Agg
Costume: Tina Bicat
Assistant director: Beverley Hatwell

2004-12-30 02:21:06