Good vs. evil: From left are Gene Kim (the lion), Alison Brown, Diana Witt, John Henry Stamper and Colin Brown being threatened by Molly Van Trees as the witch. Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
An engrossing tale of fantasy, magic and adventure — that’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Westfield High’s upcoming play. Featuring a cast and crew of 45, it’s based on the iconic “Narnia” book series by C.S. Lewis.
The curtain rises Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door and $10 via www.westfieldtheatre.com.
It’s the story of four siblings during WWII in England, after their parents send them to a professor’s house in the country to keep them safe. There they find a magical wardrobe that transports them to the mythical world of Narnia, where they meet both friends and enemies and have fantastic escapades before finding their way back.
The scenes take place in a wintry forest in Narnia. “We have a simple, clean-cut, beautiful set that creates the atmosphere that makes Narnia such a whimsical place,” said Director Rachel Harrington. “And our actors wear costumes suggesting animals, magical creatures and people in 1940s’ attire.”
“We’re creating a world that people can only see in their imaginations,” she continued. “And the actors and crew have done a really nice job of bringing all these make-believe elements to life. This show is also important for our time right now because it’s about good defeating evil, in the grand scheme of things.”
Harrington said this play will take audience members back to their childhoods. “It’s based on a popular children’s book, and the children in the story are discovering magic and mystery, just as we all do, at some point in our lives,” she said. “Our top-notch cast is doing a fabulous job and the show’s technical aspects are impressive, too.”
Senior Diana Witt portrays 13-year-old Susan Pevensie, the older sister and second oldest of the four siblings. “She’s very precocious and the mother figure who keeps her brothers in line and is the caretaker for her younger sister,” said Witt. “She’s wise, but a little shy. She likes exploring her new surroundings, but is a bit more cautious than the other kids.”
Witt enjoys her role because, she said, “I like the relationship I’ve built with the actors playing my siblings. We can play and joke around while exploring our characters together. Susan’s world is very imaginative and whimsical, and it’s fun and interesting to step into that other world.”
Will says the play will “definitely appeal to a wide range of people, from children to adults and families. And the kids’ excitement about the show will make us even more excited to perform it. There’ll be a lot of dazzling, technical aspects that’ll create the world of Narnia, and it’s a really charming and enchanting show. The siblings and their relationships are relatable, but the audience will also get that fantastic, make-believe element of Narnia, too.”
Playing Aslan, the mighty lion of Narnia, is senior Gene Kim. “He’s the very mysterious, powerful ruler of Narnia,” said Kim. “He’s noble, brave and strong, but also compassionate and caring. He’s willing to make sacrifices for other people. And he’s not always around; he’s a busy lion, often off doing business in other countries. And because of that, he comes off as mysterious; yet the people of Narnia honor and respect him because they know he only has good intentions.”
Kim likes portraying him because “He’s mature and a very powerful character. He’s a leader responsible for the wellbeing of the whole of Narnia. And it’s nice to play such an important character because, without him, the four siblings wouldn’t have the right guidance.”
Kim says the audience will like the show’s many fairytale elements, such as unicorns and animals portrayed by people, spells, talking animals and magical weather. “It’s a story for everybody — all ages can enjoy it and learn something from it,” he said. “Aslan draws a parallel to Jesus; so the moral is that, if you make sacrifices for the good of other people, things will always work out.”
Playing the oldest sibling, Peter, 16, is sophomore John Henry Stamper. “Peter’s responsible, noble and caring and looks out for his siblings,” said Stamper. “He acts like a prince and ensures everyone’s safety before making a big decision. He’s friendly and sometimes over-protective, but he just wants the best for his siblings, since their parents aren’t around.”
Stamper is an older brother, in real life, so he relates to his character. But he also likes his part because, he said, “I have two fight scenes with real, steel swords. Although they’re dull, when they clash, they make a really cool sound. My friend, sophomore Hayden Cutler, taught us stage combat, and I get to fight a monster and an ice witch.”
He said many people will be familiar with the story since it’s from a famous book they’ve read. In addition, said Stamper, “There are lots of talking animals in a huge fantasy land, the story’s based around a Biblical allusion and the set is extensive. The beaver house is on one side of the stage, and the fawn house is on the other side, and there’s a lamp post and trees. It’s a realistic-looking set.”
Senior Molly Van Trees portrays the witch, Jadis, the Queen of Narnia. “She’s cold, calculating and cutthroat,” said Van Trees. “She’ll do anything to keep her claws in Narnia and keep ruling it and make sure nothing stands in her way. She’s aggressive, mean and a really nasty character.”
Van Trees enjoys playing the witch, she said, because “She’s smart, cunning and ruthless, and I’m small and bubbly. So it’s fun playing this big, imposing character who strikes fear into the heart of Narnia. And we have really cool, choreographed, fight scenes with swords, and it’s fun to ‘fight’ your friends. It’s a physically demanding role, but fun, and I get to step out of my own comfort zone.”
She said audiences will like the actors’ “portrayal of such an iconic and well-known story. Our representation is going to be different from the movie, and that’s refreshing. They’ll also like our ensemble — we have a cool, little community of creatures that’s really going to shine onstage.”