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Show: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Society: London (professional shows)
Venue: Gillian Lynne Theatre. 166 Drury Lane, Holborn, London WC2B 5PW
Credits: By CS Lewis. Produced by Elliott & Harper Productions and Catherine Schreiber.
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 02/11/2022
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Chris Jared (Aslan). Photo: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
There’s a bit of C.S.Lewis going on in the West End and, as luck would have it, the most popular and the first of the seven books of Lewis’s Chronicals of Narnia series is being played out. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, first published in 1950, details how the four Pevensie siblings – two girls and two boys – are evacuated during the war to Scotland. There, they meet Professor Kirk and his housekeeper, Mrs Macready as well as the professor’s cat, Schroddinger; a puppet opperated and voiced by Oliver Grant.
Lucy Pevensie happens upon the famous wardrobe in the old house and before you know it she’s in the snow, having tea with a fawn called Mr Tumnus after first finding an ancient lampost. Her brothers and sister don’t believe her until they, too, experience the world of ice for themselves. The White Witch – a very white Samantha Womack – tries to emulate Tilda Swinton’s version in the most recent film but somehow doesn’t command enough gravitas and chill. Mind you, her minions’ comic reactions – led by the multi-roling Oliver Grant again – don’t do much for the baddies’ evil reputation.
When Aslan the Lion finally appears, the voice of James Earl Jones would fit as the fancy, ferocious feline, but instead we have to settle for Chris Jared who actually doesn’t dissappoint. Dressed in tanned fur, which is the opposite of the queen who is dressed in a long white fur coat. I have to admit I didn’t much like the queen’s charriot, which looks like something cobbled together in the school workshop.
The brilliant company of actor-musicians make all the music from the stage, to accompany the action brilliantly. Modern technology or not the sound is perfect. Cellos, violins, guitars… the group swap roles and instruments wonderfully and seemingly without effort. Im sure Tamsin Greig, Marc Warren and Mr Poppy from the Nativity films were all suitably impressed on press night by Michael Fentman’s epic production. Sally Cookson the original director has left quite a legacy alongside, Tom Paris and Rae Smth who designed the piece. A word also for Jack Knowles’ Lighting Design which is also floorless and allows people to slip away unseen when needed.