Presented by Splash Theatre Company
Reviewed: 22 February 2020
Growing up with a mother who was a teacher-librarian, classic stories such as The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame were a staple part of my upbringing. As a child I have very vivid memories of attending a production of The Wind In The Willows at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in an interactive setting, where the cast were scattered throughout the gardens and the audience would be lead around meeting different characters as the story unfolded.
Now as a parent, I wanted to share
a similar experience with my four-year-old daughter and Mr Badger Tells The Story
Of ‘The Wind In The Willows”, presented by Splash Productions, certainly
did not disappoint.
Set in the stunning grounds of Carrick Hill, it
was the perfect setting for this production. The audience met at the courtyard
of the main house and were escorted to a shady lawned area, where we found Mr
Badger, played by Chris John, sound asleep in his old wicker chair.
The interactive ‘waking up’ of Mr Badger was a
sure hit with the children; however, the pace fell a little flat after this as
he went through an introduction of the story, but was quickly recovered once Mr
Badger began telling the actual story.
This was a condensed telling of the original
text, but it managed to keep the charm and nuances of Kenneth Grahame’s
original book. There were dioramas and caricatures used as visual aids
throughout the performance, but at times they seemed a little too small to be
seen by the whole audience.
Chris John’s Mr Badger was lively, animated and
engaging. His story telling abilities were excellent, and his tactful way of
dealing with ‘know-it-all’ children in the audience was amazing. His accent was
very believable and faultless – to the point I was rather surprised at the end
of the performance when he spoke in his natural voice!
Mr Badger Tells The Story Of The Wind In The
Willows made for a wonderful morning
out. I highly recommend this production to families. It was a fantastic way to
introduce children to a classic story, and to the majestic Carrick Hill
grounds. Take a picnic lunch so you can continue to explore the gardens after
the production – Carrick Hill certainly has a lot to offer and explore.
Reviewed by Ben Stefanoff
Rating out of 5: 4
Venue: meet near front of main house at Carrick Hill
Season: 7 & 8 March, 14 & 15 March 2020
Duration: 40 mins
Tickets: $15
Bookings: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/mr-badger-tells-the-story-of-the-wind-in-the-willows-af2020
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