The Alliance Theatre’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe brings to life the classic novel in a production that transcends age. The play, based on the famous book by C. S. Lewis, tells the story of four children as they travel to the magical land of Narnia, which has been trapped in perpetual winter. Working with the wise lion Aslan, the siblings join the fight to free the inhabitants of Narnia from the reign of the tyrannical White Witch. While this may seem like a story for children, the show’s beautiful and innovative form of storytelling is something older audiences can also enjoy.
The fantasy novel The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, published in 1984, has already been made into a film, as well as many theatrical adaptations. What makes the Alliance’s production unique is that it tells its story through dance and other choreographed movement, using a cast of only nine actors to create dozens of characters, suggest scenery, and gracefully advance the plot whenever necessary. No matter where the story leads, the cast is constantly guiding its characters along; four actors draped in furs become the coats in the wardrobe, two acrobatically balanced actors become a lamppost, and a large group of actors work together to form a fierce frozen dragon. The great battle at the climax of the play is largely performed behind a screen, where silhouetted actors use their bodies to form the shapes of different soldiers, animals and monsters.
Many cast members demonstrated their versatility by portraying multiple characters throughout the play. For example, Tess Malis Kincaid and Enoch King played a pair of close siblings as older versions of Lucy and Peter, while also playing mortal enemies as the White Witch and Aslan.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a part of the Alliance Theatre’s Family series and is recommended for audience members ages five and up. However, many parts of the show seemed a bit too dark for such young children. Although many aspects of the show were characteristic of children’s story, there was a significant amount of onstage violence and death, which, in some scenes, was even narrated in detail.
A beautifully told story that resonates with audiences of all ages, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was performed February 27th through March 20th at the Alliance Stage.
