The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Theatre Royal Brighton
Until Saturday 15th March
Anyone of a certain age grew up on C.S.Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles, I still have battered copies in the bookshelf. The most famous of the seven stories ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ became a huge hit in the West End a couple of years ago. Now it embarked on a nationwide tour bringing this story of temptation, bravery and forgiveness to a new audience.
All seven books had strong Christian messages focusing on the struggle between good and evil. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the second in the series and an allegory of the Easter story. To bring it to the stage is not an easy feat, set in wartime London, a manor house in Scotland and a snow covered magical land it certainly presents challenges, particularly on the small stage at the Theatre Royal Brighton. There is no scenery as such but props are used ingeniously. Delving into our imagination, we are transported between realms by a large cast of actor / musicians, some of which play several roles both human and animal.
Jesse Dunbar, Joanna Adaran, Bunmi Osadolor and Kudzai Mangombe play the children at the centre of the story who a displaced by the war. They wind up in an old house owned by an eccentric professor, brilliant portrayed by Kraig Thornber. Through the wardrobe in the spare room, the children discover Narnia, a land ruled by the White Witch (a chilling portrayal by Katy Stevens) who decrees that it is always winter and never Christmas. There ensues a battle between good and evil with the children’s greatest ally being a Lion called Aslan, depicted by not only a magnificent puppet controlled by three of the actors but also an actor Stanton Wright.
Whilst not strictly a musical, this was a play interspersed with song, dance and movement to enhance the story. Instruments are played live on stage by the actors, giving the show a cosy, intimate feel. Michael Fentiman as director has done a magnificent job adapting the production to a much smaller stage than the original Sally Cookson version at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe translates well for modern audiences. There is a lot in this production for adults and children alike. You can take it as a fantastical adventure or look for a deeper meaning… It is truly magnificent.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer : Sammi O’Neill
Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Note: Due to the layout of the Theatre Royal in Brighton some of the scenery and effects were not used but can be seen at other venues. Tickets