The Wind in the Willows (musical)

The Wind in the Willows is a musical written by Julian Fellowes, with music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, based on the 1908 novel of the same name, written by Kenneth Grahame. The musical received its world premiere at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in October 2016, before transferring to The Lowry in Salford and the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. The following year the production transferred to the West End's London Palladium, where it was filmed for cinema broadcast.

Background

In December 2011,^[1] it was revealed that a musical adaption of the 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows was being worked on^[2] by Julian Fellowes with music and lyrics to be penned by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.^[2] The trio first worked together on the musical Mary Poppins.^[3] In November 2013, a Crowdfunding exercise was launched to raise ten percent^[4] of the show's £6.5m budget,^[5] with a view to opening the show in London in 2015.^[6] Ultimately more than 10% was raised by that means, totalling one million pounds.^[7] 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,^[8] based on the 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame^[9] and is directed by Rachel Kavanaugh,^[10] with design by Peter McKintosh,^[11] lighting design by Howard Harrison and sound design by Gareth Owen.^[12] The show features an original score by George Stiles and lyrics by Anthony Drewe.^[13] Open auditions were held in April 2016.^[14]

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 as Toad, David Birrell as Badger, Fra Fee as Mole, Thomas Howes as Rat, Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel and Sophia Nomvete as Mrs Otter.^[15]

West End (2017)

On 8 November 2016, it was announced that the musical would transfer into the West End at the London Palladium, with previews beginning 17 June, with the opening night scheduled for 29 June 2017.^[16] 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 as Rat, Craig Mather as Mole, Denise Welch as Mrs Otter and Gary Wilmot as Badger.^[17]

During the West End run the musical was filmed by BroadwayHD, with direction by Tim van Someren.^[18] In 2018, it was released in UK cinemas over the Easter period, and was added to BroadwayHD online in August 2018.^[19] This filmed production was also made available on the musical's official website to rent, in March 2020.^[20]

Royal Tunbridge Wells (2018)

Opening 13 December 2018, professional regional theatre company Trinity Theatre successfully produced a short three-week revival run of the show which was briefly extended with extra performance dates due to its popularity.^[21] Susan Elkin reviewed the production positively, awarding it four stars and describing the show as "in pretty good hands with Trinity Theatre Productions".^[22] BroadwayWorld 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".^[23] The production closed 6 January 2019.^[24]

London revival (2021)

An intimate revival was presented by the Turbine Theatre from 21 to 25 July 2021, directed by Sasha Regan with choreography by James Bennett and musical direction by Olivia Wormald. Casting included Tom Duern, Evelyn Hoskins, Josh Coley, Idriss Kargbo, Matthew Jay Ryan, Michael Burgen, Jade Marvin and Emma Ralston. The production toured to Latitude Festival 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

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 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 weasels and stoats 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 (or, in some productions, on a jet pack) indicates that he hasn't changed his ways at all ("Finale").

Musical numbers

Original London Cast Recording

The Original London Cast Recording was released on 30 June 2017 by Sony Masterworks Broadway^[25] and features 20 tracks.^[26]

Characters and original cast

The characters and original cast:

Awards and nominations

Original Production

References