A poignant Mole, a stern Badger and an irrepressible Toad ….

Year 5 began their wonderful performance of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ with some beautiful singing of Tales of a Riverbank. The scene opened with a delightful Mole, energetically spring cleaning his home until he dug his way up to the river bank to meet Ratty, Badger and Toad.  Soon the affable friends were messing about in boats.

It was striking how well all the children knew their lines, and how confidently they acted their parts, while the narrators did a terrific job of telling the story. When reckless Toad stole a red motor car, the whole cast were all-aboard in the brilliantly performed song Poop, Poop, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and obvious merriment.

A frightened Mole longing for home was poignantly portrayed. Badger and Toad’s solos were beautifully sung but Badger’s sternness was to no avail. The irrepressible Toad escaped gaol, artfully sneaking out in a black lacy bonnet, dressed as a washerwoman. The final act saw a splendid Toad, conspiring with Badger, Mole and Rat to take back Toad Hall from the Weasels. There followed a slow motion battle of monstrous animals in which the terrified weasels escaped, leaving Toad and his friends with one final celebration in Toad’s Great Day.

Congratulations to Year 5 for a wonderful performance. The artwork on the programme and posters was wonderful. Thank you Mrs Laube for the really wonderful music, to Mr Stokes for the staging, and of course to Miss Orange for all her hard work in putting together such a well rehearsed and thoroughly enjoyable play.