OBSERVER: Wind In The Willows
There were no willow trees and no wind, but the setting for the Australian Shakespeare Company’s Wind in the Willows was as perfect as you could ever imagine.
With more than 100 audience members in attendance at our session, and the sun beating down just a little too fiercely, we were lucky to score a seat on a park bench situated on a gradual rise under the shade of a huge, generous melaleuca.
For this performance, please remember to bring your own picnic rug (or portable seating), sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
The magnificent water lilies were in full bloom, and the ducks, coots, seagulls and sparrows acted as extras in this magical performance.
Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of life on the riverbank lends itself superbly to this spot in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens. I was surprised that the children in the audience were well-versed in theatre etiquette and listened so intently to the dialogue.
They were all most engaged with the story and immensely enthralled by the characters, costumes and entertaining musicians.
As there was no amplification, it was occasionally hard to hear some of the characters speaking; however, the rollicking songs and exceptional singing were a highlight.
The children particularly enjoyed the many opportunities for audience participation, Slapstick humour and pantomime-like action.
The parents appreciated the local comic references, especially the clever parodies of contemporary popular songs.
We were all moved efficiently to a new area of the park for the second act, where we saw an impressive Toad Hall nestled under a massive Morton Bay Fig tree.
I congratulate the energetic cast for introducing young people to classic theatre and also many genres of music in one afternoon.
Review by Lucy Nicolson