After a harsh winter, we stepped out into the sun blinking and excited to see The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe at Grand Opera House…
For those new to the C.S. Lewis tale, the story follows four siblings evacuated to the countryside during World War 2. They discover a grand wardrobe and stumble upon the magical kingdom of Narnia. Locked in an eternal winter by the vengeful White Witch, it’s down to the children and a talking lion to lift the curse and save the land and it’s many unusual inhabitants.
Early on we’re reminded of the atrocities of war, with a sombre and haunting rendition of We’ll Meet Again. Actors manipulate glowing train carriages and suitcases, as families are packed off to safer surroundings.
The four children – Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan – are played by adult actors (Molly Francis, Bunmi Osadolor, Jesse Dunbar and Joanna Adaran) who capture the rivalry of bickering siblings well. Each makes the character their own, and has a believable story arc as they became the heroes of the piece. At this show Lucy was played by an understudy, but blended in perfectly and gave a stellar performance.
Aslan here is both human actor and stunning puppet, seemingly carved from intricate wood as a nod to the opulent wardrobe. Stanton Wright brings a true poignancy to the role, seamlessly switching between the majestic and godly lion to defeated wildcat. Expertly puppeteered, the wooden Aslan’s performance is anything but…well…wooden. Speaking of cats, raggedy fleabag ‘Schrodinger’ is another puppet, and scampers around the stage with plenty of purr-sonality.
Younger audience members may be unsettled by the wicked White Witch, played by Katy Stephens. We had seen this same production before, and it was interesting to see what was scaled back to fit the York space, with Jadis’ chariot noticeably absent. However, Stephens has such a deliciously dark grandeur that she commands the space well on foot. Wolf-like servant Maugrim (Shane Antony-Whitely) prowls the stage, ever-hunting the daughters of Eve and sons of Adam.
Father Christmas makes an appearance too, but is a far cry from the Coca-Cola red St. Nick. A whirling-dervish of tassels, Myra the Gift Giver delivers presents to aid the siblings on their quest. His song of the same name is perhaps the most catchy, and the one I was humming all the way home. The role shows real versatility too, with Father Christmas played by Kraig Thornber, who we first meet as the eccentric Professor, and later a musical owl.
Thornber is one of many talented actor-musicians who bring the rich score to life, and punctuate moments of drama with tribal beats. Many are dressed as stylised animals, and the pair of Beavers – who take a larger speaking role – add comic relief. Ed Thorpe and Anya De Villiers have a great dynamic together. Thorpe reminds us of actor Jim Cowick, and in particular his Ghosts role Pat.
Special mention to Mr Tumnus who first meets Lucy under the iconic lamppost, cleverly installed in a piano. Alfie Richards delivers his inner struggles to perfection, as he wrestles with obeying the Witch and letting Lucy go. He’s excels in the beautiful When There Was Spring
Tom Paris’ set and costume design is first-rate throughout. We’re transported from a bleak war-torn Britain to the icy expanse of Narnia in a blizzard of brilliance. There are many clever effects, from a flower blooming within a book to a trippy Turkish Delight sequence I won’t spoil! Illusions by Chris Fisher are well executed if sometimes a little overlooked, but only because they integrate so effectively into the story.
Jack Knowles lighting design is one of the best we’ve seen, with inventive use of darkness and spotlights to draw attention to where it was needed and hide scene changes. The stone table scene is a particular highlight, as are the transitions in and out the wardrobe.
This is a slick and polished production that succeeds in bringing the beloved novel to life. Inventive, engaging and full of theatrical magic, it’s a must if you’re a fan of the timeless tale. Simply ROARsome.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe runs until Saturday April 26th before continuing the UK tour. Book your tickets at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe/grand-opera-house-york/
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
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