The original The Lion, The Witch and The Warbrobe was written in 1950, 5 years after the end of the Second World War, the story following four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. The children are evacuees who have been sent to Scotland to a professor’s house where they discover the wardrobe and the magical world within. In this new stage imagining, the train journey is symbolic and effective as the cast use suitcases to represent carriages on the long journey to the children’s new home.
Lucy is the first to visit the magical land of Narnia where she meets a fawn, Mr. Tumnus, and then Edmund visits where he encounters the enchanting delights of the evil White Witch (Samantha Womack).
Whenever the White Witch appears, she is majestic with her long blond hair and crown, she is not foreboding but she is surrounded by dark, evil threatening characters. This made it at times feel more appropriate for children ages 9+ rather than the recommended 6+. ‘The scariest moment was when the white witch turned Mr. Tumnus to stone’, a comment made by an attending 11-year-old who is a regular theatre goer.
The aerial stunts are clever and added to the storyline, enabling the witch to grow in stature until she dominates the whole auditorium, illustrating the distance travelled by the animals as the birds fly above them.
The puppetry in this production is excellent; Schroedinger the cat is particularly outstanding as you are completely aware of the puppeteer on stage but he is in no way obtrusive. Aslan the puppet and Aslan the man are both impressive and work together as one character. The costumes are simple and symbolic; white to represent snow, a red scarf to indicate the red breast of a robin, the animal costumes are effective and readily identifiable, along with the dark macabre costumes worn by the followers of the White Witch.
This production is not a musical but contains folk-style songs which help to weave the tale, and keep the story flowing. The characters on stage also provide the musical accompaniment, dancing and playing stringed instruments, drums at the same time which is also very skillful.
This outstanding production is an adult’s take on a child’s story, one that is complete family entertainment for children aged nine and above.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is playing at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 16th April.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Summary
This fantastic new production is complete family entertainment recommended for all aged nine and up.
