Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe brings a magical musical display to New Wimbledon Theatre
Whether you’ve recently dived into CS Lewis’ classic about Lucy’s discovery of the magical land Narnia on the other side of the wardrobe, or it’s a favourite you remember from your own childhood, New Wimbledon Theatre’s current show The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a musical treat for young and old.
In this Leeds Playhouse production presented by Elliott & Harper Productions and Catherine Schreiber, the magical story, first published in 1950, has been brought to life with impressive puppetry, aerial acting, comedy and musical highlights. With a cast playing a variety of instruments on stage, the show sparkles with merriment–and for young, aspiring musicians, the original set-up serves as a showcase of joy and atmosphere created by musical togetherness.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe transports audiences back to World War II when urban families were split in attempts to protect children by evacuating them to rural locations. The four Pevensie children–Lucy, Peter, Susan and Edmund–arrive at their temporary home in Scotland, where they will stay with a professor–and, in the show, his frightful cat Schrodinger. When exploring the house, Lucy enters the wardrobe and discovers a snowy Narnia where she meets the unique Mr Tumnus, who saves her life by protecting her from Jadis the White Witch, played by Samantha Womack.
When all the children eventually find themselves in Narnia, they are met with a dysfunctional society where animals live in fear of the wicked ruler, Jadis, who’s power is portrayed by the witch soaring with a white silk skirt encapsulating the stage.
The beavers, dressed in military colours and reminding audiences of the war-time setting, declare that the lion Aslan is their only hope after Edmund has been taken under the witch’s spell.
Despite the gripping story of conspicious bravery and adventure, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe also includes laugh-out-loud funny moments, such as when the beavers notice the coat-clad children have “detachable fur”.
Towards the end, a lively, large ensemble made us want to get up and dance, and we left the theatre feeling uplifted by the magical story of Narnia where peace is restored.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, currently on tour, is playing at New Wimbledon Theatre until 16 April 2022. The running time is 2 hours and 10 minutes, including interval.
Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
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