Wind in the Willows Review Lowry Theatre
Wind in the Willows
Friday 2 December 2011 – 14 January 2012
Reviewed by Samantha MacKenzie
I took my 5 year old daughter to see Wind in the Willows at the Lowry. It has been adapted from the Kenneth Grahame book, to stage by Alan Bennett (of Talking Heads fame). He is an awarding winning writer, and he has done this justice.
The production was beautiful, sets, costumes even the lighting had been meticulously planned and co-ordinated.
The actors really lent themselves to the roles. They adopted mannerisms of a caricatured animal, without appearing comic bookish, they all struck the balance. Especially Paul Barnhill who played Toad, he had a Rik Mayall without the vulgarity quality, which brought perfect humour to the role.
The music was used terrifically as a vehicle throughout the story, the songs were fabulous, my daughter wanted to know and sing them.
This production worked on so many layers. My daughter loved the singing, the dancing and the humour which her age can appreciate. I enjoyed not only everything she liked, and seeing her engage with theatre but there was the layer of the classic story remaining, brought up to date, beautifully written and performed with perfect comic timing for the adults.
Everything from the incidental background snowfall to the immaculately choreographed fight brought this story to life.
I would recommend this show to everyone; it is a story and now a show for all ages.
View official clip on You Tube here.