The Wind in the Wilton's, Wilton's Music Hall review ★★★★★

'...5,6,7,8!' Every aerobics routine is counted in the same way, even Duckaerobics, down by the river in The Wind in the Willows Wilton's, at Wilton's Music Hall. And it's when Paul James's high-energy Duck puts her ducklings through their paces that this show for all the family really takes off.

The Wind in the Willows Wilton's is a witty adaptation for 21st century London of Kenneth Grahame's classic tale, with all its colourful animal characters in place, and the storyline intact, but personalities, habits and action have been updated by Piers Torday, with humour on child and adult level alike.

Risk-averse, 'picnic intolerant' Mole (Corey Montague Sholay) still lives underground, but he is forced to surface by ruthless property developers cutting a private road to the Thames. Homeless, he encounters riverbank-dwelling Rat, who introduces him to the Thameside community – smoothie Otter, militant Badger, boastful early-adopter Toad – and that power-packed Duck. Together they thwart the greedy megalomaniac Weasel and his servile Stoats.


It's time for Duck Aerobics... Photo: Nobby Clark

The hard-working, multi-talented cast of eight in Elizabeth Freestone's production, created especially for Wilton's, are hilariously kitted out by designer Tom Piper for their adventures among his thicket of reeds and branches and their animal homes, decorated with detritus: plastic bags, tote bags, designer bags... Darrell Brockis's vainglorious Toad strides out in livid green magyar trousers, the tails of his flamboyant coat flying behind the bike he quickly abandons in favour of an e-scooter – and other crazes. Dapper Swallow is in white tail and tails.

Cast members play guitars, ukulele, clarinet, violin and double bass alongside some pre-recorded music in Chris Warner's cheerful score. Songs nod knowingly at the charts, but also evoke pastoral and folk themes.

My companion Jack, a few weeks off his seventh birthday, took to his feet, so thrilling was the final showdown in Toad Hall, environmentalist river-bankers versus rank capitalists. He pronounced the whole show 'fantastic'. Favourite character was Rosie Wyatt's street-wise, estuarine Rat.


Puppet baby otter Portly steals the show. Photo: Nobby Clark

With property experts in his household, Jack was quite at home with gags about planning permission and risk assessment. Some of this may go over other young heads, but there is lots of physical comedy to keep them entertained.

Cutie of the Year goes to baby otter Portly, a puppet designed by Samuel Wyer and voiced by Tom Chapman.

Gripe of the Year... the beautifully produced programme, with fascinating background, games and biographies is only available via a QR code. Such emergency measures were forced by Covid, but they should have been temporary. There is no substitute for a printed programme, to study, share and keep. The charming and indefatigable work of these artists deserves to stay on the record.