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
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