''The Wind in the Willows '' is a
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
written by
Julian Fellowes
Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords.
He is primarily known as the author of s ...
, with music and lyrics by
George Stiles and
Anthony Drewe
Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles.
Education
He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School between 1974–1980. He read Zoology at ...
, based on the 1908
novel of the same name, written by
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame ( ; 8 March 1859 – 6 July 1932) was a British writer born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is most famous for ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1908), a classic of children's literature, as well as ''The Reluctant Dragon (short story), T ...
. The musical received its world premiere at the
Theatre Royal in Plymouth in October 2016, before transferring to
The Lowry
The Lowry is a theatre and gallery complex at Salford Quays, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is named after the early 20th-century painter L. S. Lowry, known for his paintings of industrial scenes in North West England. The complex ope ...
in Salford and the
Mayflower Theatre
Mayflower Theatre (formerly the Gaumont Theatre and originally The Empire Theatre) is a Grade II listed theatre in the city centre of Southampton, England, with a capacity of 2,300. It features West End theatre shows when they tour the United Ki ...
in Southampton. The following year the production transferred to the
West End's
London Palladium
The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 an ...
, where it was filmed for cinema broadcast.
Background
In December 2011, it was revealed that a
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
adaption of the 1908 novel ''
The Wind in the Willows
''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and gets ...
'' was being worked on
by
Julian Fellowes
Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords.
He is primarily known as the author of s ...
with music and lyrics to be penned by
George Stiles and
Anthony Drewe
Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles.
Education
He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School between 1974–1980. He read Zoology at ...
.
The trio first worked together on the musical
''Mary Poppins''. In November 2013, a
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. In 2015, over was raised worldwide by crow ...
exercise was launched to raise ten percent of the show's £6.5m budget, with a view to opening the show in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
in 2015. Ultimately more than 10% was raised by that means, totalling one million pounds. The trio also reunited with director Rachel Kavanaugh who directed Half a Sixpence as well as directing Stiles and Drewe's Peter Pan A Musical Adventure at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2007 and 2008.
The musical has a book by ''Downton Abbey'' creator Fellowes, based on the 1908 novel ''
The Wind in the Willows
''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and gets ...
'' by
Kenneth Grahame
Kenneth Grahame ( ; 8 March 1859 – 6 July 1932) was a British writer born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is most famous for ''The Wind in the Willows'' (1908), a classic of children's literature, as well as ''The Reluctant Dragon (short story), T ...
and is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, with design by
Peter McKintosh, lighting design by Howard Harrison and sound design by
Gareth Owen. The show features an original score by
George Stiles and lyrics by
Anthony Drewe
Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles.
Education
He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School between 1974–1980. He read Zoology at ...
. Open auditions were held in April 2016.
Productions
Pre-West End tryout (2016)
The musical made its world premiere at the
Theatre Royal Plymouth from 8 to 22 October 2016, before heading to the
Lowry Theatre Salford from 27 October to 6 November 2016 and the
Mayflower Theatre Southampton from 10 to 20 November 2016. The cast included
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound (born Robert James Blair Simpson 6 March 1979) is an English actor, comedian and presenter.
Early life
Hound was born on 6 March 1979, in Essex and moved to Surrey at the age of seven. He was educated at Hoe Bridge School Woking ...
as Toad, David Birrell as Badger,
Fra Fee
Francis Martin "Fra" Fee (born 20 May 1987) is an Irish actor and singer. He is known for portraying Courfeyrac in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of ''Les Misérables''. He portrayed the role of Michael Carney in Jez Butterworth's ''The Ferryman ...
as Mole,
Thomas Howes as Rat,
Neil McDermott
Neil McDermott (born 15 December 1980) is a British stage and television actor, who is best known for portraying Ryan Malloy in the BBC television soap opera ''EastEnders''.
Career
McDermott appeared in the 2008 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Nex ...
as Chief Weasel and Sophia Nomvete as Mrs Otter.
West End (2017)
On 8 November 2016, it was announced that the musical would transfer into the
West End at the
London Palladium
The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 an ...
, with previews beginning 17 June, with the opening night scheduled for 29 June 2017. Whilst always a limited run, the planned closing night of 9 September 2017 was brought a week earlier to 2 September 2017 due to disappointing ticket sales. Hound and McDermott reprised their roles as Toad and Chief Weasel, and were joined by
Simon Lipkin
Simon Lipkin (born 9 January 1986) is a British actor, best known for his work in musical theatre. He has originated roles in several major West End musicals such as ''Avenue Q'' and ''Rock of Ages''. His television work includes ''The Amazing ...
as Rat, Craig Mather as Mole,
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in ''Coronation Street'' (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2010), and ...
as Mrs Otter and
Gary Wilmot
Harold Owen "Gary" Wilmot, MBE (born 8 May 1954) is a British singer, actor, comedian, presenter, writer and director who rose to fame as a contestant on ''New Faces''. As a television presenter, he is best known as the host of '' You and Me'', ...
as Badger.
During the West End run the musical was filmed by
BroadwayHD
BroadwayHD is an on-demand digital streaming media company. Based in New York City, the company records and distributes live theater performances and previously recorded theatrical productions through its platform.
History
Stewart F. Lane and ...
, with direction by Tim van Someren. In 2018, it was released in UK cinemas over the Easter period, and was added to
BroadwayHD
BroadwayHD is an on-demand digital streaming media company. Based in New York City, the company records and distributes live theater performances and previously recorded theatrical productions through its platform.
History
Stewart F. Lane and ...
online in August 2018. This filmed production was also made available on the musical's official website to rent, in March 2020.
Royal Tunbridge Wells (2018)
Opening 13 December 2018, professional regional theatre company
Trinity Theatre
Trinity Theatre is a theatre and arts centre, located in the former Holy Trinity Church in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Holy Trinity Church: 1829–1972
As a developing spa town, Tunbridge Wells was short of church capacity, and ha ...
successfully produced a short three-week revival run of the show which was briefly extended with extra performance dates due to its popularity.
Susan Elkin reviewed the production positively, awarding it four stars and describing the show as "in pretty good hands with Trinity Theatre Productions".
BroadwayWorld
BroadwayWorld is a theatre news website based in New York City covering Broadway, Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres ...
lists the cast as featuring "Alastair Brown, Alexandra Burns, Ashton Charge, Benjamin Stone, Brook Adams, Ian Chaplin, Jamie Scott-Smith, Lewis Mariot, Harriet Doyle, Luke Simnett, Matthew West, Sara Louisa Parry and Scarlett Leigh Fawcett". The production closed 6 January 2019.
London revival (2021)
An intimate revival was presented by the
Turbine Theatre
The Turbine Theatre is a commercial theatre on the banks of the River Thames at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, which opened in 2019.
The theatre was established as part of the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. The inaug ...
from 21 to 25 July 2021, directed by
Sasha Regan
Sasha Regan (née Leask) is an English theatre director. In 1998, she founded the Union Theatre, London, a small fringe venue on the premises of a disused paper warehouse on Union Street in the London borough of Southwark. As of November 2020, s ...
with choreography by James Bennett and musical direction by Olivia Wormald. Casting included Tom Duern,
Evelyn Hoskins
Evelyn Hoskins (born 13 May 1988) is an English actress best known for her role as Shona Wark in the British BBC1 hospital drama series ''Casualty''.
Evelyn's other television appearances include an appearance in ''Holby City'', also as Shona ...
, Josh Coley, Idriss Kargbo, Matthew Jay Ryan, Michael Burgen, Jade Marvin and Emma Ralston. The production toured to
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, near Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006 and has been held every year since, apart from 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 ...
where it was one of the top 10 highlights of the year.
Plot
Act 1
With the arrival of spring, Mole loses patience with spring cleaning ("Spring"). He leaves his underground home for the river, where he meets Rat (a
water vole), who spends all his days on the river. Rat takes Mole for a ride in his rowing boat ("Messing About in a Boat"). After this, he shares his picnic and an enduring friendship is born. Mrs. Otter gate crashes the friend's picnic looking for her daughter Portia, who often wanders off in search of food. Rat and Mrs Otter warn Mole about the inhabitants of the Wild Wood and tell him of wise but solitary Badger who lives there.
Mr. Toad is rich, jovial, friendly and kind-hearted, but aimless and conceited; he regularly becomes obsessed with current fads, only to abandon them abruptly. His current fad is boating, and he speeds by the picnic on a wager-boat ("Speed is of the Essence").
The swallows arrive to herald the beginning of summer ("One Swallow Does Not a Summer Make"). Mole and Rat visit Toad Hall at Mr. Toad's invitation. Having recently given up boating, Mr. Toad's current craze is his horse-drawn caravan, which he invites the reluctant Rat and willing Mole to join him on ("The Open Road"). Parked at the roadside for an overnight stop, a passing
motor car
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods.
The year 1886 is regarded as t ...
scares the horse, flipping over the caravan. Although Rat and Mole are upset, Mr. Toad becomes infatuated with motor cars. In his new racer, he terrorises his neighbours, particularly a family of nervous Hedgehogs ("The Hedgehog's Nightmare"). The animals are both fascinated and dismayed about the new craze, which he enthuses about before crashing his car ("The Amazing Mr Toad").
Autumn draws near. Determined to save Mr Toad from himself, Mole insists Rat and he venture into the Wild Wood to call on the support of Badger. When Rat refuses, Mole ventures on the scary road alone. Pursued by the Chief Weasel and his Wild Wooders, Mole only escapes when Rat has a change of heart ("The Wild Wooders"). However, the two become lost as the piles of leaves obscure the path ("Autumn"). When Mole injures himself on a boot scraper, Rat realises they have accidentally stumbled on Badger's doorstep. As Badger invites them in, Chief Weasel tells his gang of Wild Wooders of his plot to steal Toad Hall so they can live the good-life. Portia, still looking for food, is kidnapped by the gang ("The Wild Wooders Reprise").
Inside Badger's house, Mole and Rat convince Badger to come to Mr. Toad's aid ("A Friend is Still a Friend"). The trio arrive at Toad Hall to find that Mr. Toad has ordered a new car after his crash and decide to guard him in his bedroom until he learns some sense. Mrs Otter arrives, begging the friends to help her find Portia. Mole guards Mr Toad whilst Rat and Badger join the search. Feigning illness, Mr. Toad escapes Toad Hall, and steals a beautiful new car ("Toad's Escape"). However, the car owner and police catch him in the act ("Stop Thief").
Arrested for his theft, a court scene takes place with the Wild Wooders as the jury, making sure that Mr Toad is imprisoned so they can take over Toad Hall. Without showing much remorse, Toad recalls what happened in his grandiose manner while Rat, Mole and Badger try and convince him to show some remorse for his crime. The scene ends with Mr. Toad being sentenced to twenty years in jail, to his dismay ("As if in a Dream").
Act 2
With Toad in prison, the Wild Wooders have taken over Toad Hall and are fattening up Portia for a feast to come ("We're Taking Over the Hall"). In prison, Mr Toad gains the sympathy of the Gaoler's Daughter, who helps him to escape disguised as a washerwoman ("To Be a Woman"). Walking through the Wood, Rat and Mole discuss the imprisonment of their friend when they come across Mole's home. Having realised that Mole hasn't returned since the day he left his Spring cleaning, the friends have a humble feast, while Mole speaks fondly of his home ("A Place to Come Back To"). After this, some
wassailing
The tradition of wassailing (''alt sp'' wasselling) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail. The house-visiting wassail is the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a ...
mice visit as is familiar to Mole, wishing well to the animals of the forest ("The Wassailing Mice"). As the song ends, Badger bursts in to inform Rat and Mole that Mr Toad has escaped prison. Knowing the Wild Wooders will torture and kill Toad if he attempts to enter Toad Hall, the trio set out to find him first.
Mr. Toad, pursued by the police, begins his escape. He boards a railway engine manned by a sympathetic driver. As the law catches up, Toad is kicked off the train, and, still disguised as a washerwoman, comes across a
horse-drawn barge. The barge's owner gives Toad a lift in exchange for Mr Toad's services as a washerwoman. After botching the wash, Mr Toad gets into a fight with the barge-woman, and gets thrown overboard. Soaked, Mr Toad flags down a passing car, which happens to be the one he stole earlier. The car owner, not recognising Mr Toad in his disguise, permits him to drive the car. Once behind the wheel, he is possessed by his former passion and drives furiously. He reveals his identity to the car owner, and in the ensuing struggle, the car crashes ("The Greatest Great Escape").
Badger discovers Toad at the doors of Toad Hall. Badger and friends tell Mr Toad that Toad Hall has been taken over by
weasel
Weasels are mammals of the genus ''Mustela'' of the family Mustelidae. The genus ''Mustela'' includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets and European mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slender bo ...
s and
stoat
The stoat (''Mustela erminea''), also known as the Eurasian ermine, Beringian ermine and ermine, is a mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern portions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Conc ...
s from the Wild Wood and even worse, that Portia is trapped inside. After Mole convinces two guards that an attack on the Hall is imminent, Badger announces that he knows of a secret tunnel into Toad Hall through which the enemies may be attacked ("Hush!"). Badger, Mrs Otter, Rat, Mole and Mr Toad enter via the tunnel and pounce upon the unsuspecting Wild Wooders who are holding a celebratory party and about to cook Portia ("The Fight"). The friends celebrate their victory over the intruders. It's spring once again, and the animals are working hard, while Rat and Mole quite happily row on the river together - they are both content in having one another's company over the adventures Toad has. Mr Toad holds a party to mark his return, but his big entrance on an airplane indicates that he hasn't changed his ways at all ("Finale").
Musical numbers
; Act I
* "Spring" – Portia, Mole and Company
* "Messing About in a Boat" – Mole & Ratty
* "Speed is of the Essence" – Mrs Otter, Ratty & Mole
* “Messing About in a Boat (Reprise)” – Mole & Ratty
* "One Swallow Does Not a Summer Make" – Swallows
* “Toad's Big Entrance” - Toad, Company
* "The Open Road" – Toad, Ratty, Mole & Horse
* "Speed is of the Essence (Reprise)" – Toad
* "The Hedgehog's Nightmare" – Hedgehogs
* "The Amazing Mr. Toad" – Toad, Hedgehogs & Company
* "The Wild Wooders" – Chief Weasel, Sheryl Stoat, Lesser Weasel & Company
* "Autumn" – Fieldmice
* “The Wild Wooders (Reprise)” – Company
* "A Friend is Still a Friend" – Badger, Mole & Ratty
* "Toad's Escape" – Toad & Car Driver
* "As if in a Dream" – Toad, Magistrate, Chief Weasel, Mrs. Hedgehog, Mole, Ratty, Badger, Mrs Otter, Lesser Weasel & Company
; Act II
* “We're Taking Over the Hall” – Chief Weasel, Sheryl Stoat, Lesser Weasel & Company
* “To Be a Woman” – Toad & Gaoler's Daughter
* “A Place to Come Back To” – Mole
* “The Wassailing Mice” – Mice & Company
* “The Greatest Great Escape” – Toad, Badger, Mole, Ratty, Engine Driver, Magistrate, Horse, Bargewoman, Car Driver, Prison Guard, Policeman & Company
* “We're Taking Over the Hall (Reprise)” – Stoat 1 & Stoat 2
* “Hush!” – Badger, Toad, Mole, Ratty, Chief Weasel & Mrs Otter
* “The Fight” – Toad, Chief Weasel, Badger, Mole, Ratty, Portia, Mrs. Otter, Stoat 1, Stoat 2 & Company
* “Finale” - Mole, Ratty, Badger, Toad, Portia, Chief Weasel, Mrs. Otter & Company
Original London Cast Recording
The Original London Cast Recording was released on 30 June 2017 by
Sony Masterworks Broadway and features 20 tracks.
Characters and original cast
The characters and original cast:
Awards and nominations
Original Production
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wind in the Willows
2016 musicals
Musicals based on novels
Musicals by Julian Fellowes
British musicals
West End musicals
Works based on The Wind in the Willows
Musicals set in forests