The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Bristol Hippodrome ★★★★★
THE phrase ‘must-see’ is often overused in theatreland, however The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe truly is one to watch.
Full of visual treats, charm and heart, this magnificently designed new touring production had Bristol Hippodrome audiences spellbound as we were transported to the extraordinary land of Narnia.
An adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s first novel in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows the story of the Pevensie children – Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter – as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures in a frozen, mystical land where they meet a friendly Faun, amusing Beavers, the noble Lion King of Narnia, and the coldest, cruellest of witches.
Based upon Bristol director Sally Cookson’s acclaimed 2017 stage adaptation, director Michael Fentiman’s gorgeous theatricalisation of the cherished novel boasts lavish sets, stunning costumes, impressive puppetry, gorgeous choreography, a dancing band and a talented, triple-threat cast.
The show starts with a moving rendition of We’ll Meet Again as soldiers prepare for war and children are heartbreakingly evacuated, looking lost and anxious at an imposing train station.
The four Pevensies are shipped off to Scotland to stay with the eccentric and intriguing Professor Kirk at his grand house.
Here, Lucy walks through the doors of an old wardrobe, which burst open into the world of Narnia with an ensemble flooding the stage carrying white paper parasols and glowing orbs.
Flakes of snow gently tumble down and vast white cloths descend. And so the magical adventure begins.
The versatility of the cast is extremely impressive, with members of the ensemble taking on numerous roles as well as expertly commanding puppets, seamlessly manoeuvring large and smallscale props, and playing a wide range of musical instruments.
We root for the Pevensie children, who are played to perfection by Karise Yansen as endearing young Lucy, Robyn Sinclair as sensible Susan, Ammar Duffus in the role of mature older brother Peter, and Shaka Kalokoh as Edmund, who falls under the influence of the White Witch, and betrays his siblings.
Star of stage and screen Samantha Womack, best known for her role as Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, plays The White Witch, who has put a curse upon Narnia forcing it into a hundred-year state of frozen snow and ice.
Samantha, who recently played the lead role in the sold-out production of The Girl on the Train in
the West End and on tour, is suitably icy and regal with a demeanour of sugar-coated malice.
Womack’s performance literally soars thanks to some incredible aerial effects that sees the Witch ascend above the stage, commanding a hoard of mythical monsters and revelling in her own wickedness.
Chris Jarred is strong and commanding as Aslan, playing a kind of avatar alongside a huge and impressive lion puppet, while Jez Unwin is a wonderfully warm Mr Tumnus.
Moving as it is, there is also plenty of humour. There are some great one-liners and knowing asides; Sam Buttery and Christina Tedders portray Mr and Mrs
Beaver with playfulness and aplomb; and Father Christmas (Johnson Willis) and his reindeer cut through the second half with a delightfully amusing song and dance number.
The inventive staging is spectacular throughout, with a lamppost magically appearing from a piano, model train carriages propelled around the stage, actors soaring overhead and an innovative Turkish delight dream sequence.
With so many different visual aspects to encapsulate Narnia, you really feel like you are being transported to a different world.
Music, by Bristol-based Benji Bower and Barnaby Race, plays an integral part in the production. The folksy score with Celtic influences and beautiful piano segments evokes an eerie and enchanting atmosphere and captures the timeless, mythical feeling of Lewis’ fantasy realm.
As the terrific cast gathered at the finale, my captivated 10-year old daughter said: “Wow – that was REALLY special,” and the rest of the audience – all on their feet for a standing ovation – clearly agreed.
An exceptional re-imagining of a treasured story, this magical adventure will bewitch and beguile the whole family.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe runs at The Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday.