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Antic Disposition presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by CS Lewis
Dramatised by Adrian Mitchell
Directors: John Risebero and Ben Horslen
Designer: John Risebero Musical Director: Christopher Peake Lighting Designer: Howard Hudson Fight Director: Keith Ducklin
St. Stephen’s Church - Hampstead 17 March - 19 April 2009
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A review by Rosie Fiore for EXTRA! EXTRA!
I was frankly thrilled when I was asked to review this production. I’ve driven past the derelict St Stephen’s Church hundreds of times, and often thought I’d love to see it come alive again, especially as a theatre. I’m also a big CS Lewis fan, and the idea of an innovative production, staging one of my favourite stories in a wonderful, newly renovated venue caused me to do the critical equivalent of salivation. We arrived for the evening performance and there was a small crowd of paparazzi outside. I asked them who they were waiting for, and the list of stars allegedly coming was glittering: Helena Bonham Carter, Jude Law and others were patrons and supporters of the new venue. It all seemed very promising, Once inside, I was fascinated to walk around the venue. It’s a magnificent old church, and the (what appear to be partially completed) renovations have left the clerical décor pretty much intact. In fact the stage appeared to be a temporary structure, the lighting was being run from a trestle table, and the seating consisted of twenty or so rows of folding chairs. It resembled nothing so much as a temporary venue at an arts festival. Undaunted, we took our seats and prepared to be transported through the wardrobe and into Narnia. Adrian Mitchell’s stage adaptation is extremely faithful to the book and from that perspective, I don’t think the staunchest Lewis fan could fault this production. The adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy unfold exactly as they should. And therein, as they say, lies the rub. Each element of the story is there: lovely Mr Tumnus, the wicked Queen with her sidekicks Maugrim and Grumpskin, the endearing beavers (the opening night audience seemed to find it necessary to giggle every time the word ‘beaver’ was mentioned, somewhat tiresomely), and noble Aslan. The children, played by young adult actors, are scrubbed, earnest and terribly English. Only one ingredient is missing. Magic. Theatre has the power to transport us; to engage the imagination in a way that film cannot. With simple props, ingenious staging and good performances, the audience will create multitudes. As Shakespeare says, “… a crooked figure may/ Attest in little place a million;” Anyone who has seen The Woman in Black, or saw the wonderful production of Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith over Christmas knows what I mean. And sadly, this production just doesn’t make that theatrical leap. It’s safe. As my companion said, it’s just not big enough to fill the space. In the programme, the directors mention the medieval Mystery plays, and yet don’t seem to take their cue from the Mysteries in using the wonderful venue. The church is full of shadowy arches, nooks and crannies, which would have lent themselves to a fascinating mobile staging. The forgettable songs are performed to an inaudible recorded backing track, and the props, masks and costumes are simple, yet unexciting. The action definitely picks up in the second half with the arrival of the charismatic Obioma Ugoala as Aslan, but it’s not enough. It’s a venue, a production and a cast aching with potential unfulfilled. I hope that John Risebero and Ben Horslen will be braver with the two productions they have scheduled for the space in the rest of 2009: Much Ado about Nothing and A Christmas Carol. One final word of warning: if you do go to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, take a cushion. The seats are atrociously uncomfortable.
Performance Times £18, £14 (conc.), Children 12 and under, £10 Recommended age: 6+ Cast
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