If you venture out to Wayfarers Theatre’s outdoor production of Wind in the Willows at Cockermouth tonight you are in for a true delight.
Adapted from the Kenneth Grahame classic by Imogen Barnfather and Paul Davies, this whimsical adventure follows the fortunes of riverbank animals in who dare to venture into the Wild Wood.
A show full of music, dancing and puppetry, the audience – who are advised to take their own camping chairs to sit on – are instantly transported deep into the countryside before the action even begins.
The Wayfarers Theatre is itself a patch of wild ground on the edge of Cockermouth at Lorton Road, which has been conditioned into an outdoor performing space complete with its own woodland backstage area.
Central to the action is the larger-than-life Toad played with boundless infectious energy by Paul Davies.
A passionate fellow, Toad follows where ever his heart takes him, but he gets into trouble along the way.
Trying desperately hard to keep up with their bouncy friend are Mole and Ratty, each very sympathetically played by Uther Teasdale and Owen Evans. The latter also does an hilarious cameo as a washerwoman.
Tilly Bridgman and Clare Rodger form a brilliant double act in their roles as rabbits and weasels and on Friday night Cara De Mello made for an especially slippery otter after the heavens opened.
And Keith Martin’s portayal of the stern Badger provides the show with a solid emotional anchor as chaos develops all around him.
Special credit needs to be paid to Imogen Barnfather, the shows director, producer and designer.
On Friday night, she had to step take over the roles of Squirrel, Chief Weasel, Judge and Train Driver and what a fantastic job she did.
So much spirit, so much energy, this adaption of Wind in the Willows is a true delight.
The show runs until Sunday, August 4.
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