Arlington Catholic Herald - Narnia in Arlington: No Wardrobe Needed

Narnia in Arlington: No Wardrobe Needed

By Gretchen CroweHerald Staff Writer (From the issue of 11/3/05)

11/3/05

Welcome to the land of Narnia, where talking creatures abound and a White Witch turns all who cross her into stone. In this cold country where "it?s always winter and never Christmas," hope and faith have seeped away into the snow drifts. The only chance at the spring of change stems from an ancient prophecy centering around "two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve" who will be able to fall the witch and bring peace and hope to the creatures.

Encore Stage & Studio?s Children?s Theatre brings this magical land of Narnia to life through a production of C.S. Lewis? "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The Christian-themed play casts the evil, self-serving White Witch (a convincing Brynn Deakins) against Aslan the Lion (Garrison Linn, a parishioner at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax), a noble ruler who sacrifices himself to save others, only to rise again. Sound familiar?

Susan (Katie Rosenburg), Peter (Pat Dwyer, a parishioner at St. Agnes Parish in Arlington), Lucy (Louisa DeButts) and Edmond (John Ponder White), the four human siblings who enter Narnia through an old wardrobe, give strong performances as they learn lessons of working together and forgiveness. The production as a whole is well-acted and uses particularly creative stage blocking to give depth to the stage and its sets.

Macon Mann and Alicia Phillips gave endearing performances as Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, the woodland creatures who opened their home to the four children and helped them find their way through Narnia.

Susan A. Keady, director, is an award-winning director and performer who teaches at George Washington University in Washington. Producer Nicci Knauss and Pam Casey are in charge of set and prop design, including the landmark lamppost, the altar-like stone table and the large wardrobe.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," will play at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington, on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 5 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. For information go to www.encorestage.org.