I WAS excited about The Lichfield Garrick’s decision to stage The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe as its community musical this year. The book, by CS Lewis was one of my favourite childhood stories and I loved the animated film version from the late 1970s which was screened during the school holidays when I was a boy.
The characters are vivid, it is a moral tale and great escapism.
Unfortunately The Garrick Theatre could not provide the audience with relief from this week’s heat wave - it was sweltering from the heat of the day on Wednesday evening and the 500 strong audience could not escape, but I was soon swept along by the familiar story.
The opening scene was well executed - the hustle and bustle of a wartime evacuation, with dozens of children on stage all taking a trip into the unknown.
These include the Pevensie chidren - Peter (Adam Pritchard), Susan (Harriet Caddick), Edmund (Ben Ogden) and Lucy (Molly Summers).
They are billeted in the home of Professor Digory Kirke (Nick Baker), a large, mysterious house containing a room with a wardrobe, the gateway to the magical land of Narnia.
Lucy has the first experience there, meeting Tumnus the Faun (Ashleigh Laight) who does not seem particularly surprised to see her (strange, as he has never met a daughter of eve before) but they quickly become friends.
When Lucy returns to Narnia with her siblings they are determined to liberate Tumnus who has been turned into stone for betraying the White Witch (Ellicia Smith).
News of Aslan’s return provide hope that the witch’s spell, which brought perpetual winter to Narnia, can be broken. A visit from Father Christmas and the melting snow adds to the excitement.
This is a musical production and I found the songs a bit underwhelming but the performances more than compensated.
The Pevensies were all excellent, as was Ellicia Smith as the witch - she really exudes menace and I was impressed with the beavers (Ivor Williams and Denise Baker).
Outstanding was Nick Baker, who played the professor and Aslan, the king of the wood. His portrayal of the cat brought a necessary regal quality to the production.
I was particularly impressed with the choreography so well done to the the director Jonny McClean and his team. This was an entertaining show complete with snow!
Thanks also to The Upstagers, a creative group of people with learning difficulties who visit the Garrick every week for drama and creative work and who participated in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
They also performed a short play on Tuesday night before the main event and were very well received.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe will be on at the Garrick until Saturday July 27.
For tickets visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com or call 01543 412121.
