Family fun with Wind in the Willows
The AJN reviews the outdoor production of Wind in the Willows which has been a family favourite for many years.
Melbourne’s picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens provides the perfect setting for Australian Shakespeare Company’s (ASC) production Wind in the Willows, which is aimed at young children while also keeping their parents and grandparents entertained with humorous asides.
The audience gathers on picnic rugs and folding chairs on the lawn beside one of the garden’s beautiful lakes and find themselves cast as rabbit extras in Kenneth Grahame’s adventure story set around Ratty, Mole, Badger, Weasel, Otter and of course Mr Toad.
Part of the fun of the outdoor production is that the action moves to different garden locations, and so half-way through the 90-minute production everyone gets up and follow the actors to a tree-lined section where a set of Toad Hall is situated.
ASC founder and Artistic Director Glenn Elston first staged Wind in the Willows in the Royal Botanic Gardens in 1987 and it has become a perennial favourite on the arts calendar – I enjoyed taking my children to see it 30 years ago and had my four-year-old granddaughter in tow for the current season which runs until January 29.
While young children these days have plenty of entertainment choices, whether lavish stage musicals or shows on streaming channels, they still love the fun of a live performance, especially in the delightful Royal Botanic Gardens and with a show that features plenty of singing utilising a variety of instruments, slapstick routines and plenty of audience participation.
Mr Toad is the star of Wind in the Willows and Hamish Johnston gives a fine performance in the role, especially as he enthusiastically embarks on his passion for boats and fast cars that result in harrowing escapades.
He is ably supported by Callum O’Malley as Head Chief Rabbit, Paul Morris as sneaky Weasel, Maverick Newman as Badger, Christina Wells as Mole and Jono Freeman as Ratty.
Wind in the Willows is at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens until January 29. Bookings: shakespeareaustralia.com.au
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