Wind In The Willows

Wind in the Willows at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, reviewed by Ella Baillie, aged 10 …

My uncle Philip got tickets for me, my mum and my 17 year old sister Eve to see Wind in The Willows last Tuesday. It was spectacular!! (I shall have to speak to this contributor about excessive use of exclamation marks: Ed.)

The main characters were all dressed in funny outfits and had their faces painted, but they weren’t dressed as the animals – badger wore a dressing gown. I found the weasels very entertaining as they were the baddies in the show. Toad was also very funny. The rest of the cast were really good at acting, singing and playing instruments. It made a real change from going to a traditional pantomime at Christmas, even though there was a Christmassy feel to it in some parts.

The stage moved round in a unique way letting us see different places in the woods and the different houses in the story. There was also a moving outer circle on the stage which made it look as though there was a river on it – ratty rowed a boat and it moved along as though it was real. The vehicles in the play were also really clever – toad’s car was pedaled but it had smoke coming out of the exhaust as though it had an engine.

The story was really entertaining and the acting, singing and music was brilliant. Everyone should go and see this play – best one I have seen!

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

To book tickets call Box Office: 0113 213 7700 or visit www.wyp.org.uk