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D2 & Co in association with Neil McPherson present

The Killing of Mr Toad

Directed and written by: David Gooderson

Finborough Theatre

19 April – 4 May 2009

Couzens

A review by Peter Carrington for EXTRA! EXTRA!

The giant backdrop of a mansion house looms over cast and audience, bringing them all into the intimate setting of the play.  Elspeth Grahame, the widow of the respected author of The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame is alone at home, two years after her husband’s death.  As she drifts in and out of her thoughts she is joined by Rat, Mole, Badger and Toad who begin to celebrate their creator’s life.  As the story unfolds in musical numbers and scenes from his life, it becomes clear that while Mole, Rat and Badger were from Grahame’s own mind, Toad was based upon his son Alastair.  The play refocuses on Alastair’s relationship with his parents and his tragic tale.

The set remains the same but the whole production is professional and impressive throughout, the lighting accurate and evocative of the scenes, the sound clear.  The songs show a good variety of musical numbers, illustrating areas of the story rather than intruding upon it.  Finally the acting pitched well to the scenes.

The casting of the play is very good, choosing those with the appropriate look and presence for each part. Elizabeth Counsell as Elspeth carries all the emotions like her wealthy looking dressing gown.  Jeffrey Perry firstly as Mole and then Kenneth Grahame, brings the shy, childlike author to life with great sympathy for his frailness and his quiet demeanour. The audience is left with understanding the man as a human rather than every phase of his life played out.  The character who receives this treatment is Toad, played by Leo Conville.  Toad is one of the great vehicles of the play, changing from the exaggerated character from the novel to the melancholic Alastair subtly, showing the inspiration his father saw but also as his own person.  The supporting cast are equally good, particularly Stefan Bednarczyk as Rat gives a good turn about the piano, talented enough to not miss a note even in the Gilbert and Sullivan inspired numbers.  Each part is well done, given life through these fine actors to present what begins as a celebration of Kenneth Grahame but feels more deeply biographical.

Occasionally in the theatre, the cinema or when turning the last page in a book and finally placing it down there is a fundamental shifting in the soul that means you have been profoundly moved by the tragedy of others and reminded of what is important.  As the lights dim on The Killing of Mr Toad one cannot help but be moved by the tragic true story.

Tickets: £13 (£9 concessions)

Website: http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/

19, 20, 26, 27 April, 3 and 4 May 2009

EXTRA! EXTRA! www.extraextra.org

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