No hang-ups in wardrobe world
THE all-singing, all-dancing version of CS Lewis's Narnia is a relative newcomer to the musical theatre repertoire.
It's certainly a show that's yet to become established among local companies.
But after successfully negotiating the Yellow Brick Road, Stafford's Musical Youth Theatre are ready to leave Oz behind and venture into the magical kingdom of Aslan.
Fresh from scoring a decisive victory over the Wicked Witch Of The West, the young performers are now set to take on the evil White Witch of Narnia.
Narnia The Musical is based on The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, CS Lewis's classic fantasy about four ordinary children who enter an enchanted land through the unlikely portal of an old wardrobe.
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are evacuated from London during the Second World War to live with a professor in his home in the country.
There, through the wardrobe, they stumble upon a fairytale kingdom of singing woodland creatures and help the Lion King Aslan regain his kingdom from the White Witch, who has reigned over 100 years of perpetual winter.
Assistant director Michelle Cox says the young actors are coping extraordinarily well with the show's mature storyline and underlying themes of death and treachery.
"The cast recognise that in the course of their adventures, the four children learn lessons in courage, unselfishness and wisdom when they help free the inhabitants of Narnia and restore the kingdom to its true ruler, Aslan," she says.
"It's an inspirational tale of good triumphing over evil that makes the spirits soar, but the musical version has the bonus of great songs by Jules Tasca, Thomas Tierney and Ted Brachman.
"The catchy numbers include Hot & Bothered, It's Amazing What A Bit Of Spring Can Do, You Can't Imagine and the heartrendingly sad Fields Of Flowers."
Oliver Bennett, who played the Tin Man in Wizard Of Oz is Aslan, with Stephanie Golding following the role of the Coward Lion with a chilling portrayal of the White Witch. The four children are played by David Anderson (Peter), Abbie Venables (Susan), Tom Slade (Edmund) and Amelia Shackleton (Lucy), and newcomer Jordan Mace provides comic relief as the Dwarf.
Narnia The Musical is at the Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford from July 8 to 11 at 7.30pm. Telephone 01785 254653.
Comment on this story