I remember my parents reading Wind in the Willows to the children when I was very young. Maybe you can think about your personality from the character you most empathised with in that book. For me it was always ratty although I rather thought I’d like to be the wise one – badger.
Toad was very much not a favourite. He was far too brash for me. I rather despaired of this arrogant character who hadn’t seemed to grasp what was right, what was wrong and what was, plainly, stupid.
Did A A Milne think differently from me? He made Toad the central character when he reworked Kenneth Graham’s book into a stage play. It was called Toad of Toad Hall. It very much follows Toad’s adventures on the open road, his imprisonment, escape and return to Toad Hall where a battle takes place to dislodge the weasels and stoats who have taken it over during Toad’s incarceration.
I saw the play when my sister’s school put it on. My sister was in the cast. From memory, which could be totally wrong, I should say she was a chief weasel.
My wife, as a girl, went one stage better. She was taken, by family friends, to see a performance at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford on Avon. Like me, she is a hoarder so has the programme.
I do love that front cover, portraying Mr Toad as very much the gent with is top hat and bow tie. As we can see this production had a run for Christmas 1956 and into 1957.
I’m not very knowledgeable on the acting profession so actor’s names mean little to me – but here is the cast.
I have, though, heard of some of the cast who went on to have quite illustrious careers in stage, TV and film.
But mostly, I like the memories this brings back – for me of my sister and a quite different performance and for my wife of this very occasion.
Locksands Life 