Prepare to be spellbound as you are taken into the world of Narnia in this beautiful stage production which is finally getting a full festive run at the Lowry.
Covid meant the proposed run in 2020 was cut short but now audiences get the chance to experience the show based on the novel by C S Lewis first hand. And my advice would be if you can get a ticket, go.
This is storytelling on stage at its finest. First of all, the whole production looks magnificent; there’s an almost cinematic feel to it.
The Lowry’s large stage, sometimes a problem for touring productions, is just the perfect canvas for this magical show. The lighting and costumes are dramatic and impactful and you are immediately transfixed.
Susan, Peter, Lucy and Edmund are evacuated from London during the war and find themselves under the guardianship of an eccentric professor and his cat.
A humble wardrobe is a portal to another realm, the land of Narnia which has endured 100 years of winter under the harsh rule of the White Witch.
The children’s discovery of this strange world prompts the return of the mighty lion Aslan and a final showdown with the evil witch.
As one of the most popular children’s books of all time - a bedtime staple for generations - it’s likely that the majority of the audience will already know the story. If so, you will not be disappointed or left feeling short changed.
If it’s totally new to you, then what a treat lies in store! It’s a great story which operates on so many different levels. It covers redemption, resurrection, loss, love and sacrifice. You can read religious symbolism into it if you so choose, or you can take it as a fantasy tale with wonderful characters - however you approach it, it just works.
That’s in part due to the original source material, but also down to the production itself. Director Michael Fentimen and his team have taken such care to do the work justice; their love for and commitment to the work shines through.
Read also: 'There is pressure on us to do the story justice'
For a production of such size and scope, the attention to even the smallest detail is impressive. Nothing is left to chance, the story is always at the forefront and it had even the youngest audience members hanging on to every word from the outset.
Children are different but as a rule of thumb I’d say that it’s possibly not a show for the under-eights. It is genuinely scary in places - the White Queen and her henchmen are particularly nasty creatures - and it doesn’t shy away from the subject of death and loss.
The four children - played by Joanna Adaran, Jesse Dunbar, Judzai Mangombe and Bunmi Osadolor - are absolutely perfect for their roles; you warm to them immediately and share in their sense of wonder as they venture into the world of Narnia.
There have been many interpretations of Aslan over the years and for this production there’s an element of Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials novels with Stanton Wright the human embodiment of the mighty lion.
Three puppeteers operate Aslan and it’s a majestic sight. As he stalks the stage, tail twitching you soon forget it’s a puppet at all. Puppetry is also used so effectively with the professor’s cat Schroedinger which is a big winner with the audience.
Katy Stephens as the White Witch is everything you would want from the ultimate villain. She’s genuinely terrifying and full of menace. It would be easy for her to lurch into ‘evil queen from a panto territory’ but oh no, she’s very clearly the villain of the piece.
As well as the puppetry there are a number of illusions and special effects in the show which will either leave you gasping or scratching your head as to how they were done. I won’t spoil it be revealing what they are, but just keep your eyes open.
The final element which makes this show so special has to be the soundtrack which accompanies it. This is very much a musical, albeit a folk musical.
The creatures of Narnia are also multi-instrumentalists playing everything from double bass to washboards live on stage. The songs really add to the atmosphere - and the appearance of Father Christmas at one point is a real highlight.
Look out too for Ed Thorpe as Mr Beaver, the ultimate comic relief.
When shows with a big reputation come to the area, sometimes the hype can be greater than the reality.
With The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe it’s difficult to see what you could say to fully do it justice. It’s just wonderful and the perfect family show, especially over Christmas.
Until January 11. Details from www.thelowry.com
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