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« Masterpiece Theatre
April 8, 2007: The Wind in the Willows
A live-action adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved children’s book might strike you as a bit hokey — the little world of Toad, Badger, Mole and Ratty is custom-made for animation in the classic pen-and-ink illustration style, after all — but the casting, makeup and costuming is so perfect in this Masterpiece Theatre that it’s wholly earned its masterpiece label.
The adorably skittish Mole (played by Lee Ingleby of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) tires of spring-cleaning his house, so he pops aboveground for a look-see about the neighborhood in its new spring bloom. He wanders a bit farther from home than he’s used to and runs across dapper and knowing Ratty (Mark Gattis, Match Point). The pair become fast friends and are soon off to meet the famous Toad (Matt Lucas), of the famous Toad Hall.
Toad is a large, larger-than-life, excitable sort of amphibian, wildly wealthy and prone to obsessive and expensive projects. Lucas as Toad is even more impressive than Toad himself: shaved totally bald, complete with warts and toadish face markings, he’s decked out in tweed three-piece suits, silken waistcoasts, cravats and gold watch chains. Meanwhile, Mole flubbers about in a grubby fur jacket, a delicately long nose for sniffing and some filthy sawed-down teeth for snacking. Then we have Ratty, who adorns himself in a professorial, cream gabardine suit and a charming Venetian straw hat. Thus bejeweled, these three unlikely companions decide to explore the world.
But Toad screws it all up when he discovers a new obsession: motor cars. The trip is canceled while he pursues his new passion, but it ends badly when he crashes seven cars and is hospitalized four times in only three months. Even some badgering from the no-nonsense Badger (Bob Hoskins) doesn’t get him to quit his habit, until he ends up imprisoned after he steals a car. Of course, he escapes by charming the jailor’s daughter (Anna Maxwell Martin, Bleak House), and Toad’s various misadventures and legal run-ins form the center of this magnificent tale about the glory (and peril) of joyful individuality.
Besides the genius costuming, the live actors add huge charm to an already endearing story. Each actor uses the exact mannerisms of his respective animal — Ratty sniffs at his paw, Toad blinks slowly and silently, and Mole trips and scrambles about nervously. The set design is also perfect, like Toad’s bright-green, lily pad-like bedclothes, and his car’s golden toad-shaped hood ornament. Toad is the absolute star of this endeavor, with his hilarious physical comedy (the dining-room chase scene was particularly wonderful) and his shrieking melodrama. And the script is terrific: Toad’s histrionic apologies, his clever odes in song to himself, his washerwoman monologues and his impassioned obsessions (“Brothers of the wheel, I hail thee!”) astound with cleverness. In the end, of course, the story becomes like Planes, Trains and Automobiles by a coalition of environmentalists and English schoolboys, but it’s heartwarming even without the anti-modernization, nature-loving message.
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Apr 9, 2007 12:42 AM
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That was such a charming production. I gave my brother a heads up to record it for his children but he was sad to see that his local PBS channel did not broadcast it last night. Looks like I am going to be ordering the DVD for my niece and nephew...
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Apr 9, 2007 11:58 AM
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I was skeptical about this. The Wind in the Willows is a favorite of mine, so is the cartoon I grew up on. I was worried about people acting like animals, but I was so wrong. This was such a great adaption and it was so good. Something that the whole family could watch. The acting was superb. I give a big thumbs up to the BBC and WGBH for this wonderful adaption.
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Apr 9, 2007 3:12 PM
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It would be great to also have a "Watercooler" blog on the counterpart Mystery series. The recent "Jericho" episodes and the upcoming "Foyle's War" episodes are superb! Please consider adding Mystery to the blog list for the dedicated fans. Thanks!
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Jun 11, 2007 2:35 PM
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