Wind In The Willows
Worcester Evening News |
| That old river just keeps on rolling...
THE Nonentities production of Kenneth Grahame's classic story of life on the riverbank made a big splash in what was largely an entertaining evening. A large cast and small stage was well managed, with some entertaining cameo roles. The four leads were all excellent, with Ross Workman as Toad rampaging around the stage in the manner of Christopher Biggins on drugs. Rat, played by Richard Casewell, was splendidly Terry-Thomas "oh I say" (or is that Dan Maskell) and Badger (Trevor Bailey) was like the Foggy character from Last of the Summer Wine. Martin Copland-Grey was suitably wet as Mole and the sharply-dressed weasels skulked around the stage with the delightful Chief Weasel Paul Thomson reminiscent of an East London gangster. In fact all of the characters reminded me of someone famous but I think this was no bad thing and helped strengthen the characters. Highlights included an entertaining court scene in which Toad is thrown in the slammer and a Where's Toad rap song. There was the occasional blip when the cast lost the plot but all in all it was a pleasant evening stroll and the cast can be congratulated for messing about so well down by the dyer. The show runs until Saturday. |
| Nat Sylvester |
Birmingham Post |
| This Toad's a real charmer
A PRODUCTION which relies on talent rather than trappings gives a beguiling lease of life to Alan Bennett's version of the classic story. Ross Workman is a Toad whose pomposity would win prizes and who uses it unerringly to charm the chuckles from his audience. With him is the strong trio of Richard Casewell (Rat), Trevor Bailey (Badger) and Martin Copland-Gray (Mole). This is a Mole with a mincing Northern accent, a tendency to pronounce I as Ah, and a highly dangerous line about going down fighting. Jenny Eglinton sparkles as the bargewoman and Martin Drury is a characterful two-legged horse. The car, the boat and the railway engine are no-frills adjuncts to a venture which has charm by the bucketful. It runs until Saturday. |
| John Slim |