When Alan Bennett's droll adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Edwardian riverbank idyll first surfaced at the National Theatre in 1990, the tale of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad seemed as much a comment on Thatcherite values as it was a nostalgic paddle in the waters of the past. Particularly as the weasels were so intent on running down Toad Hall, planning to buy it at a knockdown price and turn it into a money-making theme park and leisure centre.
Eleven years on, however, the play comes across as a piece of heritage-industry kitsch. It's top of the range, of course, and very handsome, with lots of little fluffy bunnies that make you go, "Aah". But watching it on Monday, when Norman Tebbit's cricket test gave way to David Blunkett's language test, you couldn't help thinking that it celebrates a particularly narrow view of Englishness. The decent, honest, terribly well-spoken Riverbank creatures defend their patch and cultural values against the nasty stoats, foxes and weasels, who are clearly a bad lot because they drop their aitches and have doubtful manners and morals. They are just not one of us.
The show has always been cute, but I don't remember it being quite so middle England, middle class and middle of the road. Rupert Goold's production would be funnier if it were slyer and more subversive, and didn't make the Riverbankers quite so cuddly and lovable.
But hey, it's Christmas, and most theatregoers don't want to take the kids to the class-war version of Grahame's story: they just want a jolly family night out. Birmingham Rep is certainly delivering that, with a good-looking evening enlivened by some great cameo performances, particularly from Peter Holdway as Albert the depressive horse, and David Tughan, whose Chief Weasel is clearly modelled on Gary Oldman in his Peckham period.
The final fight is a bit limp and the whole evening lacks energy, but it slides by pleasantly enough, like a lazy summer's afternoon messing about on the river.
Until January 19. Box office: 0121-236 4455.
