Saturday 24 December 2022

The Wind in the Willows, ASC, RE-POSTED REVIEW of 2019-2020 production ****

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Adapted by Glenn Elston from book by Kenneth Grahame

Australia Shakespeare Company

At Botanical Gardens, until 30 Jan 2022

Stars:****

Links: The Wind in the Willows - Melbourne

Please note: This is a re-post of my review of the 2019-2020 summer production of The Wind in the Willows. KH

The Wind in the Willows Hero Image
Photo Supplied
 

The most treacherous creatures for outdoor children’s performers are the kids themselves, and actors in The Wind in the Willows in the Botanical Gardens sometimes contend with little ones mobbing the stage.

 

Their participation is encouraged, albeit controlled, in Otis Elston’s production of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved story of Toad of Toad Hall (Ryan Hawke) and his creature cronies.

 

The enthusiastic children sing ‘Waggle your ears, wiggle your nose,’ and ‘Quack quack quackady-quack’, roar laughing at the antics of Weasel (Paul Morris) and Head Chief Rabbit (Callum O’Malley) , then go on a dangerous mission with Ratty (Isaac Broadbent) and Badger (Chris Asimos) to rescue little Portly the Otter (Cierra Shook/Kempton Maloney) from the Wild Wood.

 

This 2020 production includes some recasting, new comic bits and some more updated pop songs with witty lyrics for the adults.

 

Morris is the hilariously sly and sleazy Weasel who invades Toad Hall with his weasel mates, wielding giant water pistols filled with ‘weasel wee’, to the children’s delight.

 

O’Malley hosts the show as a youthful and charming Head Chief Rabbit, leading songs, playing guitar and, with Morris as Weasel on mandolin, entertains the parents with witty new lyrics to pop tunes.

 

Wearing a suitably gaudy green and pink outfit, Hawke is gleefully flamboyant as the vain and manipulative twit, Mr. Toad, who is obsessed with every sporty fad from canoeing to motorcars and gets himself arrested and sentenced to 40 years for car theft.

 

Broadbent is playful as the down-to-earth, river-dwelling Ratty who loves ‘messing about in boats’, while Alex Cooper plays Otter as well as a smug Policeman and a doddery Judge.

 

Asimos is suitably pompous and long-winded as the black and white Badger who – according to Weasel – looks like a renegade from Kiss or, worse, a Collingwood supporter, while Chloe Bruer-Jones is sprightly as the timid Mole.

 

Willows is ideal summer family entertainment so, pack a picnic, but guard your snacks and wine with your life, because Rabbit and Weasel will raid your hamper.

 

by Kate Herbert

 

Thursday 22 December 2022

Arts Weekly RADIO INTERVIEW with Kate Herbert 10 Dec 2022

 

 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2022

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Saturday 10 December 2022. 

On this program, host Kiera Stevens, interviews me about my life in theatre, writing, reviewing etc. Producer, Nick Tohurst, thought the listener/s (if there are any!) would like to hear my story.

I  restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 12 mins. K

 


Tuesday 13 December 2022

Arts Weekly 3MBS Radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert, Sat 19 November 2022

 

 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2022

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Saturday 19 November  2022. 

On this program, I review A Christmas Carol, conceived by Matthew Warchus and written by Jack Thorn, Sunshine Super Girl by Andrea James, and comment only on Emilia as I saw only the first 45 minutes before it was stopped by a cast injury.

I  restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7 mins. K





 

Arts Weekly 3MBS Radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert, Sat 5 November 2022


 

 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2022

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Saturday 5 November  2022. 

On this program, I review Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly at MTC and the new production of The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

I  restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7 mins. K


 

Arts Weekly 3MBS Radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert 22 Oct 2022


 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2023

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Sat 22 October 2022. I talk about Naomi by Patrick Livesey, and All That Fall by Samuel Beckett, at La Mama. It's about 7-8 mins and I did it by phone so the sound is a bit down-a-drainpipe.

restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7-8 mins. K




 

Arts Weekly 3MBS radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert, Sat 8 October 2022

 

 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2023

This is my Arts Weekly review spot on Sat 8 October 2022. 

On this program, I review Cyrano by Virginia Gay at MTC and The Meeting at Red Stitch.

restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7-8 mins. K


Arts Weekly 3MBS Radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert 24 Sept 2022



 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2023

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Sat 24 September 2022. I talk about Australian shows that are/were available to stream online. Companies have created digital, filmed versions of their live shows since Lockdowns ended.

At MTC Digital: The Heartbreak Choir  by Aiden Fennessey and Berlin by Joanna Murray-Smith, and Slap, Bang, Kiss by Dan Giovannoni, Shakespeare's As You Like It and Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes by Hannah Moscovitch.

MTC digital shows stay online for about 2 years.

La Mama On Screen had plenty of digital shows that have short digital season.

I restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7-8 mins. K


 



Arts Weekly 3MBS Radio REVIEWS Kate Herbert 10 Sept 2022


 Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2023

This is my Arts Weekly review spot from Sat 10 September 2022. I talk about K-Box at Malthouse, and Bed and Breakfast at Chapel off Chapel.

restarted reviewing theatre for 3MBS on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files. It's about 7-8 mins. K


Monday 12 December 2022

Arts Weekly 3 REVIEWS Kate Herbert 27 Aug 2022

Arts Weekly Saturdays 10-11am, restarting 4 Feb 2023

I started reviewing theatre for 3MBS again on 27 Aug this year after a few years away from the station.

 I'm on every second Saturday morning on Arts Weekly after 10am, usually before 1030am, for about 7-8 minutes.

I love doing radio reviewing even if it's unpaid!

In this episode from Sat 27 Aug 2022, I talk about Anna K at Malthouse, Caught at Red Stitch and More Than A Game a footy musical. 

Click on the file below to hear the reviews. It's a video without pics cos Blog won't accept audio files.  It's about 16 mins.