THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, through June 14, Pardoe Theatre, BYU, (801) 378-4322. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes (one intermission).
PROVO — Stolen cars, wild rides, moles, prison breaks, rallying around a friend to fight a gang of thugs. Sure, it might sound like plot points from a new "Fast and Furious"-type movie, but in this case it also describes the new BYU production of "The Wind in the Willows," which aims to help a new generation of fans discover this famous story.
As many already know, "The Wind in the Willows" follows the adventures (although in the first act it's more "the goings-on" than adventures) of a group of animals in the woods.
It begins with the thoughtful and serious Rat (Shelley Graham) and the gentle and kind Mole (Rachel Howe) meeting and becoming fast friends. Rat takes Mole to meet the worldly and self-focused Toad (Caitlin Wise) and they later meet up with Rat's old friend, the wise Badger (Benjamin Hess).
Some time passes and Rat, Mole and Badger hear that Toad has become obsessed with purchasing cars, which he invariably wrecks. The three have an intervention with Toad and forbid him from purchasing more cars. Toad ends up stealing a car and is thrown in jail.
After a somewhat slow-moving first half, the action and story pick up after intermission where Toad escapes from jail and enlists his friends to recapture his stately home from the weasels (literally) who have taken it over.
It should come as no surprise that the play is geared toward children, although the show notes do nudge adults in the audience to analyze the play further by listing things to discuss with their children. Concepts like the various natures of "getting along," how money influences the play's characters or the social structure among animals (although if you think too hard about the last point, you start to resent most of the main characters).
The production does a fine job creating the world of "The Wind in the Willows" with fun costumes and makeup, as well as interesting scenery and staging. Also, to further create each scene, members of the cast sit on the sides of the stage and create ambient noises, giving it an almost radio-show flair.
Each of the four lead characters has a distinctive personality, which many are familiar with because of the fame of the story. Still, each actor playing the role in this production nicely tweaks his or her character just enough to make it his or her own. Wise does an especially good job of striking the balance of making the overbearing Toad manic and self-centered enough that we clearly see his folly but still somehow strangely endearing so that you don't hate him for it.
In a smaller role, Peter Biggs as Albert the horse steals every scene he's in and delivers the play's funniest lines with a sly drollness.
E-MAIL: p_thunell@hotmail.com