The charming tale of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad was brought to life as RSD’s Dramatic Society headed to the riverbank, then downstream on a thrilling adventure through the splendour of Toad Hall, the perils of Wild Wood and finally to a climactic battle with the wicked weasels who terrorise the riverbank.
Alan Bennett’s nostalgic adaptation on Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s story ran for three nights from 3-5 December, and delighted the audiences who packed out the Assembly Hall.
Mild-mannered and naïve Mole, convincingly portrayed by stage veteran Lauren Boyd, stumbles into an exciting new life above ground when he ventures out for some fresh air one spring morning and falls into friendship with the worldly-wise water vole, Ratty, played with superb comic timing by the talented David Saygi. Working as a very natural double act, both actors brought charming eccentricity to these important lead roles.
Ratty and Moley are content to enjoy a quiet life on the riverbank ‘simply messing about in boats’, but their flamboyant neighbour Toad of Toad Hall has other ideas and drags the pair into his frenzied quest for a rather more fast-paced life on the open road. Dion Di Maio’s riotously comic portrayal of Toad perfectly captured his conceited character and irresponsible pursuit of all that is flashy and fast… ‘Poop poop!’
Only the rather stern Badger, played with gruff authority by Reuben Morrow, seems to have the knack of keeping Toad in line. But even Badger fails to curb the obsession with motorcars that lands Toad in some serious trouble. It is only after a prison sentence and a perilous journey back to the riverbank, that Toad shows some level of humility and is helped by his three friends to reclaim Toad Hall.
The Weasels, bossed by scowling Jessica Hadden and marshalled by a wily Rebecca Richardson, are the villains of the piece and, as a troop, the weasels succeeded in conveying the thuggery that threatens the warm community of the riverbank. Characters like Weasel Winifred (Sophie Older) and Ferret Gerald (Emma McCarley) simply oozed menace.
A host of other creatures and characters brought extra laughs and added charm to the meandering plot. Poor put-upon Albert the horse, played with hilarious deadpan wit by Adam McFarlane, was an audience hit, as were the ridiculously pompous magistrate (Megan Forster) and the no-nonsense barge woman (Hannah Ferguson) who throws Toad overboard. Laughs, and eyebrows, were raised at the washerwoman (Matthew Scott), whilst Patrick Greeves also impressed as the slightly barmy train driver.
Clever costuming and makeup helped convey animal qualities without concealing character, and the fact that the actors worked hard to display the individual mannerisms of the animals was not lost on the audience: Tom Ferguson’s scampering, nose-twitching portrayal of Rabbit Robert was just one example of the attention to detail that typified even the smaller roles.
The minimalist set with its band of undulating blue cloth, suggestive of the river, was beautifully designed, and complete with boat, caravan, car, train and barge, it all functioned perfectly to transport us into the English countryside and a bygone age.
Incorporating music, song and dance, this playful production created a warm and festive atmosphere for children and adults alike. Congratulations to director Mr McDowell and to everyone involved in the cast and behind the scenes.
