Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows - The Classic 1960 Full Cast Recording (Abridged) (2X Audio CD)

Description

Original Historic Recordings - During a beautiful summer morning, Mole decides to escape the humdrum of cleaning his burrow and takes a moment to explore the inviting outside world. Here he meets a dashing water vole called Ratty who instills in Mole the merits and joys of the river bank. Before Mole knows it he is introduced to a whole new set of exciting friends, worlds and adventures. These include dear old Badger and Toad, a loveable but imperious and impulsive aristocrat. - For numerous previous generations of children and adults alike, the name Richard Goolden is forever associated with Kenneth Grahame and the world of The Wind in the Willows. This is understandably due to his utterly endearing, warm-hearted and gentle performance as Mole, a role he first played in the stage adaptation of the story, Toad of Toad Hall by Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne. There were also the radio performances in the role that enchanted listeners during the fifties (his voice was already very familiar to listeners of Children’s Hour) and then there is this 1960 recording. There was something about the way that Goolden played Mole that chimed with the public perception of what sweet old Mole would be like. This 1960 recording which was a specially produced abridgement of the novel reunites another cast member of the stage play, Patrick Wymark, who having previously played Toad, is our friendly and welcome narrator for this recording. Here you also have Norman Shelley reprising his celebrated role as Toad from the BBC’s Children’s Hour radio show production. Frank Duncan is charismatic and reliable Ratty, reprising his role from a 1955 radio performance which also featured Golden. The role of solid, slightly grumpy but wise Badger surely always needs an actor of gravitas and it was found here with Shakespearian actor, Tony Church. Otter is played by Deryck Guyler, yet another ‘veteran’ of BBC’s Children’s Hour. - CD One 50 mins. CD Two 52 mins. Approx