The Wind in the Willows at Olympia Family Theater
reviewed by Alec Clayton
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| Kate Arvin, Jason Haws, Ryan Holmberg, Ingrid Pharris Goebel |
Olympia
Family Theater’s world premiere of The Wind in the Willows is something very
special of which the people of Olympia should be proud and to which they should
be flocking in record numbers.
OFT
attracts some of the best theater people in the area to work on their
productions — the list of cast and crew for this show is a who’s who of local
theater.
Adapted
by Andrew Gordon from the classic children’s book by Kenneth Grahame, this
production is a musical directed by Jenny Greenlee with music by Bruce Whitney
and additional lyrics by Daven Tillinghast, Gordon and Whitney.
 |
| Jason Haws and Heather Christopher |
The
story kicks off on a fine spring day when Mole (Kate Arvin) gets tired of
housecleaning and decides to go outside and take a walk. She meets up with Rat
(Ryan Holmberg) who takes her on a boat ride on the river to Toad Hall, where
they meet up with Toad (Jason Haws), a rich, conceited but friendly and
fun-loving creature. Another friend, Badger (Ingrid Pharris Goebel) enters the
picture and they all become concerned about Toad’s obsession with motor cars.
Toad
ends up being arrested for stealing a car and driving it recklessly, and he is thrown
in jail. His friends help him escape. They’ll do anything for a friend, and that,
indeed — the power of friendship — is what this play is all about, as expressed
by the repeated phrase, “Friendship is not a thing we say, it’s a thing we do.”
The
cast is wonderful.
Haws
throws himself into his part with unrestrained enthusiasm. With big, wild
gestures, and an amazingly mobile face with expressions that change lightning
fast, he’s like a combination of Jerry Lewis and Dick Van Dyke — reminding me
of why in 2007 I named him Best Actor in a Comedy in my “Critic’s Choice”
column for his role as Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Harlequin
Productions.
Holmberg
plays Rat (or ”Ratty” as the other animals call him) with just a touch of
comedic restraint. He’s the epitome of the stiff upper lip and ramrod straight
back, but his eyes sparkle with a hint of mischievousness. He’s quite
proficient with a stick-sword as he proves in a very skillfully choreographed
stick fight with the Chief Weasel (Kyle Henrick). Holmberg impressively choreographed
the scene himself.
Arvin
plays Mole as a very sincere, agreeable and kind creature. She empathizes with
everyone and it’s easy for everyone to empathize with her. She’s also quite
supple in her physical moves.
Badger
is described in the book as an individualist who "simply hates society."
Goebel plays Badger as a more complex character — proud, noble and likable.
There
are many wonderfully wild scenes in this play including every appearance of
Toad and one scene in which an ensemble actor (Heather Christopher) steps out
of a mirror to become Toad’s mirror image brought to life. It’s a classic comic
bit of mimicking each other’s moves, and it’s done with style and precise
timing, although unlike some other takes on this bit — the one with Lucille
Ball and Harpo Marx leaps to mind — Haws and Christopher do not exactly
duplicate one another.
The
set by Jill Carter is terrific. It looks like a children’s book illustration
and is made with cardboard parts that easily change from trees to a table in a
courtroom and to boats and cars that move about much more smoothly than such
contrivances usually do. And the many set changes are made with a minimum of
interruption to the action.
Kudos
also go to Becky Scott and Sally Fitzgerald for delightful costuming and to
Heidi Fredericks for seamless choreography.
Looking
for a great local show to take your kids or grandkids to this month? Or to take
your inner child? This would be it.
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