Doug McKeag as Mr. Toad, doesn’t mind being in a bind

DETAILS

Toad of Toad Hall presented by ATP
Martha Cohen Theatre
Wednesday, November 25 - Sunday, December 27

More in: Theatre

You know you’re at a show that has children’s interests at heart when, post-intermission, one of the main characters asks the audience, whilst fanning his derrière, “How many of you had to go?” A few little hands dutifully shoot up. The character then proceeds to ask one father — whose hands are resting, unsuspectingly, on his lap — “Number One or Number Two?” A chorus of giggles erupts.

This is just one of many ways Alberta Theatre Projects’ current production, Toad of Toad Hall, directed by Karen Hines, keeps young audience members captivated for a full two hours — no easy feat.

But it’s not just the kids who are mesmerized by the antics of Mr. Toad, Badger, Mole and Ratty. I, and other adults whom I spoke to on opening night, loved the show. Without taking anything away from other family productions ATP has staged over the past few years, this one is by far my favourite. From the set, to the costumes, to the story, the show transports one to a magical, cozy place where these little creatures live, laugh and play. The set was fantastic, including a nostalgic-looking motorcar, a train and the façade of Toad Hall. They go a long way to lending the show a delightful period-feel straight from a fairytale.

British playwright Philip Goulding adapted the play from Kenneth Grahame’s 1908 children’s book The Wind in the Willows. (A.A. Milne, famous for penning the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, also did a dramatization of Grahame’s work called Toad of Toad Hall in the ’20s.)

The story revolves around Mr. Toad (Doug McKeag) — resplendent in a flamboyant pink-and-green checked blazer befitting his character — who is a jovial but high-living, careless and conceited character with a taste for fast cars. Toad fails to heed the warnings of his friends — Badger (Duval Lang), Mole (Sadie Evans) and Ratty (Ksenia Thurgood) — and carries on until he ends up in jail. Meanwhile, the Chief Weasel (Nick Green) and his sidekick stoat (Janelle Cooper), plan on taking over Toad Hall in Mr. Toad’s absence.

(Warning: plot spoiler ahead.)

Mr. Toad escapes from jail using an ingenious disguise and, through the help of his friends, usurps the weasel’s and the stoat’s plans. It is an utterly charming, endearing little tale that touches on themes of humility, generosity and the value of true friendship.

I cannot say enough good things about the performances of the cast members, particularly McKeag’s portrayal of Mr. Toad. He never stops moving, from a few well-placed flicks of his tongue, to the arrogant little “pish-posh” waves of his hands, to his careening around the stage when stunned. This is a show that relies heavily upon physicality to build each character, and all of the actors embrace this opportunity with relish. Each actor inhabits his character’s body so convincingly that all the movement seems completely organic. It probably doesn’t hurt that the show’s movement coach is John Turner, the “Smoot” half of clown duo Mump & Smoot.

Toad of Toad Hall is full of laughs, both for the young and the not-so-young. McKeag, in particular, is hilarious. It’s evident he excels at performing for youth and has experience doing so through the children’s symphony concerts his company creates and tours.

The play’s language is not “dumbed-down” for little ears; it remains at a level adults can enjoy. Also, because the cast delivers the story in British dialect, it might be hard for the youngest of ears to adjust, but there’s so much going on visually that, frankly, a few words missed here and there won’t matter.

Of course, if you don’t like tales involving anthropomorphized animals, or anything resembling a heartwarming story for kids, then this isn’t a show for you. But, if you have children, or are just a kid-at-heart yourself, then go see it. It’s a wonderful, feel-good way to celebrate the underlying spirit of the Christmas season.