The Wind in the Willows Review by Liam Dearden

SUPERB, LIKE IT, HAZAHH

Step into the enchanted world of the Wild Wood, where friendship, adventure, and a love for nature come together in a production that will leave you spellbound. The Torch Youth Theatre's vibrant adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's beloved classic, "The Wind in the Willows," adapted by Glyn Maxwell is a true masterpiece. It's also a story about loving our planet and accepting who we are. It is a magical place where animals come to life in wondrous ways bringing laughter and awe to such a captivated audience.

“The Wind in the Willows” is one of those stories that has a version which belongs to each generation. We all have a connection with this story, that has a huge amount of appeal to everyone, and its themes are so familiar to all of us. Under the direction of Tim Howe, the talented young cast of forty brings to life the charming characters of Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger in a production that is both faithful to the original story and infused with a unique, modern contemporary flair as beyond these universal ideas, it’s a story of heroes and villains, where we know that someway, somehow, good will always triumph! The Torch Theatre certainly put its spin on the story with some local references making their adaptation thrive for a new generation.

The rustic, earthy tone of the staging and set design perfectly captures the woodland atmosphere incorporating the twisty trees that make up this wildwood and benches wrapped in foliage and drapes hanging making this amateur production feel very intimate. It's a production that blends the illustrations of the book but also the illustrations of Quentin Blake and the aesthetic of director Wes Anderson it's very autumnal. while the costumes by Sophie Barlow are a masterclass in creativity, with each character's design leaping out from Grahame's pages respectively becoming instantly recognizable and delightful as they imbue such cosiness.

The story follows Mole's journey as she leaves her comfort zone and discovers the joys of friendship and adventure with Ratty, Badger, and of course, Toad, who certainly gets into plenty of mischief. Along the way, they encounter the villainous Cheif Weasel and her gang of ferrets and stoats, who threaten to disrupt the peaceful harmony of the Wild Wood alongside the ever-looming sound of The Slurpex. The very existence of this woodland and Toad Hall is under threat.

The cast as a whole were outstanding, working together in perfect harmony, whilst also delivering fantastic individual performances. The Torch Youth Theatre is a safe creative space for all young people to learn about themselves, other people and the world around them. their sessions are not just about acting and theatre; the Torch ensures that young people learn about social skills, problem-solving, and teamwork. Most importantly have fun and make new friends. So for the first time in a decade over forty young people aged 8 to 18 have taken over the main stage as the production is a culmination of 11 weeks of work with each group having 20 hours of rehearsals truly an immense challenge what they have risen to and ultimately achieved.

The awesome Foursome consists of Mole (Katya), Badger (Elin) Toad (Daniel), and Ratty (Neo) had a great dynamic, working remarkably well together with multiple varying textures and flavours of personality. This created a wonderful portrayal of what real friendship looks like, all bringing different things to the group. I especially enjoyed Mr Toad, who was wonderfully eccentric and funny, loud, and brash, The world-famous Toad of Toad Hall is one of those people who everyone could hate but secretly we all wish we were him! He has lots of money and loves the most expensive and up-to-date toys! He gets bored of things very quickly and moves on to the next exciting thing… which often leads to adventure and danger! Daniel, however, manages to bring an endearing quality to Mr Toad whilst providing a plentiful visual comedy. Elin brings a sense of maturity and wisdom to this wise and knowledgeable undergrounder. the young lad who portrays the Ratster brings gusto and suave to the role. Ratty is the first creature to meet the Mole and he is far more aware of the world than his underground friend. Ratty also dreams of the sea and the wider world beyond the river. I loved the young girl who portrays Moley she brings such sincerity to the role. She normally lives underground but spends the story discovering the joys of life above ground. She is a bit of a nervous creature, who can get overexcited and this sometimes leads her into trouble. She is a loyal and helpful friend. Callie-May portrays such a confident weasel who claims to be in charge of the Slurpex, but it doesn’t always listen to her, and it’s slowly running over everything in the Wild Wood and forcing the animals out of their homes.

It would be unfair to single out any individual member of the cast as they are universally excellent in their roles as were the ensemble full of ferrets and stoats who are all just brilliant and the little youngsters portraying them are absolute stars. One of the highlights of this production is its ability to balance lighthearted humour with such a timeless tale that resonates profoundly with audiences of all ages. celebrating the power of friendship, loyalty, and acceptance, and this production does it justice.

Overall The Wind in the Willows is a gorgeously timeless feel-good family experience that I recommend anyone, child or otherwise go and seek out. Play along the river bank and you may find some new friends along the way! as the Piper has come to Milford Haven.