Garsington Players, responsible for last summer's excellent version of The Cherry Orchard, return this year with Alan Bennett's charming adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's animal-based story, performed in memory of the former headteacher of Garsington primary school, Michael Royal.

Something about Alan Bennett's interpretation and the Players' contributions to it means that there is more than enough in the farcical countryside antics of the rich and childlike Toad and his sensible friends Rat, Mole and Badger to keep adults and children alike amply amused. (Never before has it crossed my mind to consider the nature of the fancy that gruff, fatherly old Badger takes to young, enthusiastic Moley, the new best friend of overprotective, generous Rat, but let's just say it's enough to make Ratty jealous.)

Well-cast Players stalwarts Marie Holmes (Mole), Kate Hey (Rat) and Kit Arnold (Badger) portray the creatures and their foibles delightfully alongside those of the uncontrollable green fiend, Toad (played excellently by Colin Davidson, whose makeup and tweeds made him look like a cross between The Joker and Jeffrey Archer. Badger's simple yet frighteningly effective makeup also deserves a special mention). The many smaller parts taken by Players regulars and new, young faces are also acted with panache - much glee is to be gained from the shriekings of the indignant washerwoman (Anne Belton) and the wideboy viciousness of the weasels (all of whom look like Arthur Daley) and the other Wild Wooders.

The magical surroundings of Garsington Manor gardens are used to good effect once again, with much scurrying behind rose bushes and rushing in and out of the beautiful old dovecote. Whilst the use of space might occasionally be so effective as to result in the loss of the odd word, it's worth it to see Toad rushing about gleefully on a converted mower. Poop poop!

The features you might expect from am dram (yet which were absolutely absent from last year's production), combined with first-night nerves and wobbliness, did result in a fair bit of line-fluffing, some suspect pauses, some comedy prop failures and some interjections thanks to the 'outsideness' of it all (loud 'planes, clouds of moths, etc.). The audience was kind, however, and these forgiveable glitches only seemed to add to the charm of the whole experience. I wish only to make one small criticism, which was that the pace slowed markedly in the second half - but I'm sure this will be less noticeable in the second and final shows. It's only a shame that the run is so very short. Last year, too, the Players were lucky enough to have glorious weather every night - but this time the gods aren't smiling. The show must go on, however, and a stolid and loyal audience braved the spattering of rain which briefly graced the first half of this first night performance, all remaining for the second half after donning their raincoats, their mood not dampened by the prospect of impending watery doom. May this be a shining example of hardiness for all Oxford outdoor theatre audiences to aspire to. Take a warm coat and an umbrella as insurance (and a cushion if you haven't enough of your own built-in padding), and you won't notice that you're not on the sunny riverbank with all the other animals.

Su Jordan, 25.07.03