Toad Of Toad Hall
Reviewed by Donald Madgwick for The Croydon Advertiser
Animals in a flurry
I was more than a little intrigued to read that Theatre Workshop Coulsdon’s producer Richard Lloyd intended to treat “Toad of Toad Hall” as a satire on Edwardian society, with Toad representing the worst face of the aristocracy and the Wild Wooders the emergent radical forces.
Such Marxist analysis in the dear old Youth and Social Centre?
Well, no. The production, as it turned out, said nothing to us about these things, or about very much else for that matter. True, the servility of the Wild Wooders towards the victorious Toad came over very well; but all that is doubly underlined in the text anyway.
As a matter of fact, the Wild Wooders were a more animated bunch than the River Bankers, and this was rather like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern upstaging the Prince of Denmark.
Costumes and settings were generally good, but the effect was spoiled by some quite disastrous lighting, which did all sorts of capricious things throughout the evening.
As for characterisations, the principals would have done well to take a few deep breaths and allow the lines to unfold their subtleties.
This was especially evident in Chris Woolgar’s Badger, not nearly solemn or portentous enough, and in Tim Young’s Toad, who left himself no room to savour what is not only the best part in the play but one of the best in children’s drama.
Too much rush and flurry, and unnecessary gesture, took the bloom off his performance.
Lacking any kind of accompaniment, the production very nearly dispensed with music altogether. Even Toad’s celebrated song of self-glorification, so often alluded to in the text, was not sung at all but, horror of horrors, recited!
Such few songs as remained badly needed at least a piano to give them some backbone.
There was an appealing performance by Christine Cooper, who showed us something of Mole’s wonderment at being allowed to take part in such spiffing adventures.
Nigel Sorensen was a restrained Water Rat, and Tim Warner’s Judge was expressive and clearly spoken.
Cast Details:
Marigold
Helen Noble
Nurse
Lindsey Elliot
Mole
Christine Cooper
The Water Rat
Nigel Sorensen
Mr Badger
Chris Woolgar
The Toad
Tim Young
Alfred, Toad’s aged retainer
Richard Lloyd
Chief Weasel
Marc Weston
Chief Ferret
Martin Cole
Chief Stoat
Claudia Dean
The Judge
Tim Warner
The Court Usher
Chris Argles
The Policeman
Martin Cole
Phoebe
Lesley Argles
Washerwoman
Jan Collis
A Small Stoat
Paul Jones
Mr Fox
Richard Lloyd
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Andrew Dunn
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Mark Bayly
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Liam Hammond
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Guy Funnel
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Clare Chambers
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Jenny Hickman
Wild Wooders and River Bankers;
Helen Waight
Technical Crew Details:
Director
Richard Lloyd
Assistant Director
Steve Swinscoe
Lighting Director
Chris Garrett
Lighting Assistant
Chris Huggett
Stage Manager
Jeremy Simms
Assistant Stage Manager
Charles Turl
Sound Director
Paul Cooper
Sound Engineer
John Wooden
Set design
Richard Lloyd
Set design
Nigel Sorensen
Make up
Steve Swinscoe
Properties
Paul Alexander
Animal costumes
Christine Cooper
Box Office
Martin Cole
Front of House
Wendy Cole