Children in Year Four gave a full PAC a treat last week with their musical production of Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of the riverbank. The curtains parted to reveal a truly rural set of river dominated by an imposing Toad Hall. Tantalisingly to one side was the ‘poop poop’ whose introduction was eagerly awaited, not least by Mr Toad.
It was, however, the entrance of stoats (dominated by the fierce Jasper Toor), and weasels (Olivia Reeves marshalling her troops) that gave the first indication of the care that went into this production. The costumes and make up were superb.
The casting was excellent with outstanding performances by all the principals, with a special mention of Billy Chapman’s Toad, who were word and nuance perfect. No-one let the side down with Zak Kary and Daniel Simonini as world weary delivery men and Toad’s own staff, Hattie Rogers and Henry Dixon-Clegg who both saw the humour in their situation, as well as
their lines. There were some (very) pleasant surprises too: who could have seen that the stern Clerk of the Court (Honey Lander) would have such a sweet singing voice? In case younger members of the audience lost
their way, we had the clear narrators, Charlotte Bassett and Patrick Holly as narrators on hand to guide us. Super!