The Wind in the Willows

Welcome to "Playwright Spotlight" — your exclusive backstage pass to the creative minds crafting the incredible plays featured in our Theatrefolk catalogue. Discover the magic, quirks, and genius of the playwrights who help bring the stage to life. Let's meet one of these exceptional playwrights who offers the chance for your student performers to shine in their spotlight. What inspired you to start writing plays specifically for high school & middle school students?When I was hired to be the Executive/Artistic Director of the Fort Wayne Youtheatre I had an opportunity and a platform to create shows for our youth and to write plays that addressed their needs and interests. It's been great to create plays for our young artists with this in mind. Can you share a bit about your creative process when developing plays that resonate with students?I have a strong background in Commedia Dell Arte, so one of the first places I start is identifying character in the plays I'm creating. I think actors of any age respond to character and want to play strong, clear characters. Are there any challenges you face when writing for student performers, and how do you overcome them?Because I have been doing adaptations of classic novels I have to start by identifying what themes in the novel will resonate with young artists and young audiences in addition to writing strong characters. In Treasure Isalnd it was about overcoming fear. In Wind in the Willows it was about loyalty. Having a strong foundation of "Why tell this story" helps in the writing How do you balance education and fun in your scripts?Again, it comes back to character. Making the characters needs and tactics clear, understandable and fun to play. In the case of The Wind in the Willows I wanted to give the actors a chance to play these funny characters who used all kinds of tactics to get what they wanted. Toad is such a spoiled, manipulative brat. Its fun to play a character like that. It helps the actors become stronger at their craft to be able to understand and play all the tactics needed to bring a character like that to life. Any advice for teachers or directors looking to choose engaging and age-appropriate plays for their student performers?Find the thing that will hook your actors and engage them. It doesnt matter if it is the subject matter, or playing character, or a play that has stage combat, just find the thing that will hook your students. That hook will ensure they work hard and be excited for every rehearsal. What is your favourite play you've written so far?The Wind in the Willows. I got to flex my Commedia training in creating the characters in that play. Anything else you'd like students and/or directors to know about you as a playwright?I am a produce of all my failures. Don't be afraid to fail at something. The lessons you learn from failing ultimately make you stronger.

*Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. * The Wind in the Willows adapted by Todd Espeland is a lively and theatrical adaptation of a wonderful classic from Kenneth Grahame. Mole just wants to make friends, Rat just wants to hang by the river, and Toad just wants everything to go zooooooooom. None of that prepares our friends for the fight to save Toad Hall from Fox and his wicked weasels. Join them in this in this character-driven thrilling adventure through the Wild Wood and out into the Wide World! Gender flexible. Easy to stage. Excellent ensemble and tech student opportunities. Why did we publish this play? I love an adaptation that takes a world created in one form and brings it to life on the stage. Todd has done just that with this play. It’s easy to stage, the characters are vividly drawn and the text is full of theatricality and humour. So much fun! Let’s hear from the author!1. Why did you write this play? I have always liked the story of The Wind in the Willows. It is filled with great characters. My background is in mask and Commedia and the story always felt to me like it had Commedia types in its characters. So I wrote it with that idea in mind. 2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences. It is about the strength of friendships and believing in someone and helping them become the best person they can be. 3. What’s the most important visual for you in this play? The moment at the end of the play with all of Toad’s friends on one side of the stage, defending him, and the Fox and Weasels on the other side of the stage backing down from them. 4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be? Trust the absurd, over the top Commedia like comedy of the play. Trust the archetypes in the characters and play them like they were Commedia characters. They may not correspond to classic Commedia characters, but they are all “types”. Trust their character drives and how the comedy comes out of their drives/needs. 5. Why is this play great for student performers? It gives them a chance to play characters with big needs and characters who play a lot of tactics to get those needs. It teaches them to play “Truth in Size”. If you indicate or play generically BIG, the comedy doesn’t work. Just like in the Simpsons these characters have big needs but those needs are very real for them in the theatrical world of the play. There needs to be an honesty to their large characterizations. That’s why Commedia, when it works, is so much fun. The audience gets sucked into this large theatrical world that is very real of the characters in it. 6. Do you have any tips for those who are performing this play online? This is a great play for online because it is character driven. Characters using tactics to get their needs from other characters. Any physical business comes out of playing a tactic. Sometimes it is easy to just play the physical business and not play the tactics through your voice and body. Online you have to really be precise about playing your tactics. If you are planning on doing this show socially distant than I suggest doing a lot of physical characterization work. You will have to use more stage than normal and having specific physical characters will not only help the actors to play off each other but it will fill the stage with these unique physical characters to watch.