#simon lipkin

[conjuremyheart]

I always watch the original Broadway Avenue Q as its amazinggg but just in case ANYONE possibly has it, can anyone find or know of an Original Westend recording anywhere cause I have deepdived YouTube several times and can't find it anywhere. I'm usually fine not finding it but I was listening to Oliver today and I NEED the full Simon Lipkin and John Robyns Nicky and Rod

[gutsofgold]

I'll never be the same again

@amayzingmayzie got the willows server a SIMON LIPKIN CAMEO AUUUUGHHH

unironically cried on call I fear

[burtonsdoodles]

You’ve gotta pick a pocket or two…

08/04

#burtonsdailydoodles 9️⃣8️⃣

To be continued…

INSTAGRAM

[somethingart]

Anytime I'm feeling down I put on Wind In The Willows musical and instantly feel better

[lestatslestits]

Simon Lipkin join Cameo challenge.

[isleofsam]

[notfspurejam]

Ghost Stories - After Party [x]

[centrestagereviews]

“The Wind in the Willows was bright, it was bold and it brilliant” - Review: The Wind in the Willows Broadcast

In 1908 Kenneth Grahame took readers deep into the wild woods when he released his children’s novel, The Wind in the Willows. Fast forward 100 years and this novel is not only considered to be a classic, but it is also considered to be the epitome of Englishness. From the idyllic scenes of Ratty and Mole in their little riverboat to the elegant Toad Hall, this tale and its characters have truly cemented themselves in British culture.  Over the many years there have been a wide number of adaptations for both the stage and screen, but one of the most recent was staged as a musical at The London Palladium last summer.

With music from Half a Sixpence’s Stiles and Drewe and a book from Downton Abbey’s Julian Fellows this new musical was set to be an instant success, but did The Wind in the Willows live up to expectations?

Set in the English countryside The Wind in the Willows follows Mole as he ventures away from his quaint little home and sets of on the adventure of a life time with his new friends Ratty, Badger and the hectic Mr Toad.

One of my favourite things about this production is how closely producers stuck the original plot and yet still managed to transfer an idyllic countryside to The London Palladium’s stage. Of course there are a number of noticeable differences such as the inclusion of an extremely catchy score, but I cannot help but feel that some of the adaptations were a little unnecessary. The original tale certainly has a sense of gentlemen in their gentlemen’s club, and I feel as though the evolution of Mrs Otter was just a desperate attempt to add more female characters to the plot. Yes Mrs Otter can be seen as empowering, I mean we didn’t hear much about Mr Otter, but I cannot help feel as though the character was just shoehorned in to please audiences.  This felt a little needless to me, but at the same time I can see how important it is for young girls to be able to see positive female characters on stage. As loyal as I am to the original text, I can appreciate the need for adaptation when bringing this story into the twenty-first century.

Not only did this production have a wonderful score, incredibly clever sets, but it also had an outstanding cast led by Craig Mather, Simon Lipkin, Gary Wilmot and Rufus Hound. In the role of Mole Craig was lovably adorable and he was beautifully innocent. They genuinely couldn’t have cast the role better. As Ratty, Simon was sensible and brought a wonderful depth to the character. We see a perhaps harder side to the rodent, and yet we’re still warmed to the character as we’re made to feel he’s been hurt and let down previously, which makes the happy ending all the more rewarding. Gary Wilmot is just an absolute delight in everything in which he stars, and was certainly no different as Badger. Rufus Hound was the living embodiment of Mr Toad. He managed to make the excentric character devious, and yet at the same time oddly lovable. Poop Poop, he was simply fantastic.

The Wind in the Willows was bright, it was bold and it brilliant and was without a doubt the family musical of 2017. I am so pleased audiences have been given the chance to experience the show even now, after the show has left the West End. The production is still being broadcast to some Showcase cinema’s this weekend. For more information or find out where to catch a local screening head to the official The Wind in the Willows website.

Image courtesy of Google Images.