The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Enchants Audiences at the Museum of the Bible
Image Courtesy of The Academy of Arts – Logos Theatre
By Mariam Baldwin
The Museum of the Bible’s production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has enchanted audiences so much that it was brought back by popular demand after its original eight-week run in February.
Based on the beloved C.S. Lewis tale, published almost 75 years ago, the production had high expectations to fulfill. Thanks to the superb writing and direction by Nicole Stratton, the play exceeds them! The script is faithful to its source material, and audiences really felt as if they were stepping into the fantastical land of Narnia through top-notch performances and production quality.
A timeless story set in WWII, it follows the journey of the four Pevensie children who are evacuated from London to escape the Blitz. Stuck in the quiet countryside, things soon take a turn when they discover a secret portal in the back of a closet. This portal leads to Narnia, a magical dimension filled with oddities like centaurs and talking animals. The unsuspecting siblings are soon thrown into an epic battle between good and evil. It is a heartwarming tale that covers everything from sibling relationships to the power of belief.
Of course, the story’s Christian allegory was made extremely clear here. It provided a powerful way for young children to understand the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Even at the age of nineteen, I thought it was clever how the show explored that just because things don’t seem possible does not mean they aren’t real. The Christian faith is woven into the show’s fabric in so many more ways than one.
All of the cast were wonderful at bringing the story to life, but especially the four child actors at the center of it all. Britton Stratton and Bethany Bliss excel in their respective roles as Peter and Susan, the two eldest siblings. Emmett Yopp and Alice Johnson succeed in playing the youngest of the Pevensie bunch as Edmund and Lucy. Yopp masterfully performs Edmund’s redemption arc while Johnson beautifully balances Lucy’s curiosity and sweetness. Nicole Stratton was perfectly despicable in her portrayal of the White Witch, and I actually felt aggravated every time she was on stage. Christian Lamas and Jennifer Swain provided some nice comic relief as Mr. and Mrs. Otter as well.
The production quality was nothing short of breathtaking. An array of scenes were effectively brought to life through set design: an old country manor, a snowy landscape, a stone fortress, and more. The costume design also transported viewers to a different time and place. All of the costumes that the children wore befit 1940s England. Meanwhile, the costumes in Narnia were tailor-made for each character: centaurs, evil queens, etc. Perhaps what impressed me most, however, were the puppets. In particular, Aslan was portrayed by a giant puppet maneuvered by multiple men. I was captivated by the sheer size of the puppet as it walked right past me in the aisle!
My expectations were blown out of the water with this production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. There’s magic for everyone, and I would endorse it to audiences of all ages. The show is running until October 19 at the Museum of the Bible, so there is plenty of time to see it for those who are interested. I’d highly recommend getting a ticket; you just might go and find yourself whisked away into a land of infinite possibility.
Rating: ★★★★★
