The Wind in the Willows (musical)

Background

In December 2011,^[1] Jamie Hendry revealed that he had commissioned a musical adaption of the 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows with a book^[2] by Julian Fellowes and music and lyrics to be penned by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.^[2] The trio first worked together on the musical Mary Poppins, and then again on the revised version of Half a Sixpence, which opened at the Noel Coward Theatre in November 2016 following its opening at the Chichester Festival Theatre. ^[3] 

In November 2013, Producer Jamie Hendry launched a Crowdfunding exercise to raise ten percent^[4] of the shows £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 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] , choreography by Aletta Collins, lighting by Howard Harrison and sound 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]

Original UK Tour (2016)

The musical made its world premiere at the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 8 to 22 October 2016, before touring to the Lowry Theatre Salford from 27 October to 6 November 2016 and the Mayflower Theatre Southampton from 10 to 20 November 2016.

In June 2016 the full cast was announced including comedian and actor 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.

West End (2017)

On 8 November 2016, it was announced that the musical will transfer into the West End at the London Palladium, with previews beginning 16 June and opening night on 29 June.           

Rufus Hound will reprise his Manchester Theatre Award-winning performance as the amazing Mr Toad. He will be joined by West End stars Simon Lipkin as Rat and Craig Mather as Mole, EastEnders actor Neil McDermott as Chief Weasel, with Coronation Street and Boy Meets Girl star Denise Welch as Mrs Otter and West End legend Gary Wilmot as Badger.^[16]

Act 1

With the arrival of spring and fine weather outside, Mole loses patience with spring cleaning. He flees his underground home, emerging to take in the air and ends up at the river, which he has never seen before. Here he meets Rat (a water vole), who at this time of year spends all his days in, on and close by the river. Rat takes Mole for a ride in his rowing boat, shares his picnic and an enduring friendship is born. Mrs Otter gate crashes the friend’s picnic looking for her daughter Portia who has a habit of wandering 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 and of the extraordinary amphibian, Mr Toad.

Later in the Spring, Mole and Rat visit Toad Hall at the request of Mr Toad. 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. Having recently given up boating, Mr Toad's current craze is his horse-drawn caravan. He persuades the reluctant Rat and willing Mole to join him on a trip. Having parked at the roadside for an overnight stop, a passing motor car scares the horse, causing the caravan to overturn into a ditch. Rather than be upset Mr Toad changes his obsession again and now focuses on the new-fangled motor-car. In his new racer, he terrorises his neighbours, particularly a family of nervous Hedgehogs.

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. Unfortunately falling leaves of autumn have covered the path to Badger’s house and the two are lost in the Wild Wood. When Mole injures himself on a sharp piece of metal, Rat realises they have accidentally stumbled on Badger’s doorstep. As Badger invites them in, Chief Weasel calls his gang of Wild Wooders and tells them of his plot to steal Toad Hall so they can live the good-life. Portia, still looking for food, is kidnapped by the gang.

Inside Badger’s house, Mole and Rat convince Badger to come to Mr Toad’s aid. The trio arrive at Toad Hall to find that Mr Toad has ordered a new car after yet another crash and set out to guard him in his bedroom until he learns some sense. Mrs Otter arrives and when she begs the friends to help her find Portia, Mole suggests he looks after Mr Toad whilst the Rat and Badger join the search. Feigning illness, Mr Toad escapes Toad Hall, and steals a beautiful new car.

Act One ends with Mr Toad incarcerated for his crime. 

Act 2

With Toad in prison, the Wild Wooders have taken over Toad Hall and are fattening up Portia, readying her for a feast to come. In prison, Mr Toad gains the sympathy of the Gaoler's Daughter, who helps him to escape disguised as a washerwoman. Walking through the Wood, Rat and Mole discuss the imprisonment of their friend when they come across Mole’s home. Homesick, having realised he hasn’t returned since the day he left his Spring cleaning, the friends have a humble feast when local choristers appear. As the choristers’ song ends, Badger bursts in to let Rat and Mole know that Mr Toad is now a criminal on the run. They set off again to save him from himself.

Though free again, Mr Toad is pursued by the police. He manages to board a railway engine manned by a sympathetic driver,. Mr Toad jumps from the train when the law catches up and, still disguised as a washerwoman, comes across a horse-drawn barge. The barge's owner offers him 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, who tosses him into the canal. Soaked, Mr Toad flags down a passing car, which happens to be the very 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, declaring his identity to the owner who tries to seize him leading to yet another crash.

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. 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. Having driven away the intruders, Mr Toad holds a party to mark his return, but can he really change?

Differences between the musical and novel

Characters and original cast

The characters and original cast: