June 2, 9, 1935
The Mountaineers Players' 13th production was Toad of Toad Hall by A. A. Milne, based on The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The opening production pulled in an audience of over 700 people.
"The story concerns the amusing and almost human adventures of the animals of the river - friendly and generous Water Rat, unsociable Badger, timid little Mole who had never before seen a rive, and conceited, boastful, irrepressible Toad, who drives his friends to distraction with his many new 'crazes' which always get him in trouble
"The tale also includes the Wild WQooders - Squirrels, Rabbits, Stoats and Weasels - who frighten decent law-abiding animals; the Field Mice that go Christmas caroling; Alfred the horse who always supplies the wrong word, and many other queer and dear creatures." [1935 newspaper clipping]
"...for the first time it rained - rained steadily from beginning to end., Much has been said of the good sportsmanship of actors in instances where 'the play must go on!' But I take off my hat (and was I glad I wore one on Sunday!) to the audience which sat there through that entire performance, getting wetter every minute. They must have looked more fantastic than the players, with newspaper "soldier" hats quickly made up, robes and anything else at hand, covering them. And it was worth it!" [Laura Moen, an audience member, in a letter to the Seattle Times, 1935]
"What a day! What a day!" - the famous opening words of The Mole in Toad of Toad Hall came to mean something else than a day to throw aside all cares and roam the woods. And what a day that second Sunday in June turned out to be!
"The thirteenth season of play production by The Mountaineers proved to be a jinx insofar as it brought rainy weather, but it also served to drive away a bugaboo hanging over The Mountaineers Players' shoulders each year - what to do if it rains! The audience as well as the players proved to be real troopers and - the show went on. The Toad's mask became softer and softer until the jaws finally stuck and refused to work; the other masks became wetter and wetter - but still the show went on and the audience, 700 strong, wet but undaunted. stayed on to the last song...
"Under the direction of Mrs. Robert F. Sandall and with the leads in the capable hands of Ronald Todd as Mr. Toad, Harriet Walker as The Mole, Henry Streams as Mr. Badger, and Wilmer Froistad as The Water Rat, they play attained a charming perfection and upheld the high standard of The Forest Theatre and The Mountaineers Players." [Claire McGuire, The Mountaineer, 1955]
