BHC thespians bring Narnia to the spotlight
Erin Marissa Russell
Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Entertainment
"The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," originally the first in a series of children's books by C.S. Lewis, received widespread attention with the major motion picture version, released in 2005. Theatre Brookhaven director Darise Error said the book was a favorite of her younger brother's, and she's developed a fondness for it as well.
Brookhaven College has chosen to present "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" for its first show of the fall season. Remaining performances are 8 p.m. Oct. 29-31 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Performance Hall.
The play tells the tale of four children who, upon moving into a new home, discover that a wardrobe allows them access to the land of Narnia. Once there, they meet the animal inhabitants and are caught in a struggle between good and evil that eventually brings them to the battlefield.
"Given its popularity still today, I thought it would be a perfect choice," Error said.
However, she said the recent films did make the play a challenge.
"There are many special effects things they can do in movies that we can't touch in live theater," she said. "So we opted not to even try."
Instead, animal characters were achieved through the use of masks and animalistic movement. Conjured items appeared offstage and giants were implied rather than seen.
"We focused on innately theatrical things," Error said. "The team had production meetings beginning clear back in August to discuss the look and feel of the show, and the outcome represents true collaboration among some highly creative people."
Error described the theme of the play as "good triumphs over evil" and said there is also much emphasis on love. She said the Christian atonement symbology of the story is well-known, and some adaptations attempt to downplay or cut out this aspect, "which is absurd."
"It is what it is," Error said. "I selected an adaptation I felt was most true to Lewis' original, and though there is no intention to 'preach,' I never shied away from the content or connotation."
Jihwan Lee, communications sophomore, and Sugandh Shafi, biology sophomore, attended to complete an assignment for their theater class.
Shafi said, "The costumes go well with the whole play, especially the witch."
Lee named Ellen Rogers, the actress who played Lucy, as his favorite part of the production and said she was confident in her role.
"Hopefully our play will be one more visual representation of a terrific story that [the audience] will remember fondly," Error said.
Students who wish to attend can purchase tickets at the box office, which can be reached at 972-860-4118.
Brookhaven College has chosen to present "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" for its first show of the fall season. Remaining performances are 8 p.m. Oct. 29-31 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Performance Hall.
The play tells the tale of four children who, upon moving into a new home, discover that a wardrobe allows them access to the land of Narnia. Once there, they meet the animal inhabitants and are caught in a struggle between good and evil that eventually brings them to the battlefield.
"Given its popularity still today, I thought it would be a perfect choice," Error said.
However, she said the recent films did make the play a challenge.
"There are many special effects things they can do in movies that we can't touch in live theater," she said. "So we opted not to even try."
Instead, animal characters were achieved through the use of masks and animalistic movement. Conjured items appeared offstage and giants were implied rather than seen.
"We focused on innately theatrical things," Error said. "The team had production meetings beginning clear back in August to discuss the look and feel of the show, and the outcome represents true collaboration among some highly creative people."
Error described the theme of the play as "good triumphs over evil" and said there is also much emphasis on love. She said the Christian atonement symbology of the story is well-known, and some adaptations attempt to downplay or cut out this aspect, "which is absurd."
"It is what it is," Error said. "I selected an adaptation I felt was most true to Lewis' original, and though there is no intention to 'preach,' I never shied away from the content or connotation."
Jihwan Lee, communications sophomore, and Sugandh Shafi, biology sophomore, attended to complete an assignment for their theater class.
Shafi said, "The costumes go well with the whole play, especially the witch."
Lee named Ellen Rogers, the actress who played Lucy, as his favorite part of the production and said she was confident in her role.
"Hopefully our play will be one more visual representation of a terrific story that [the audience] will remember fondly," Error said.
Students who wish to attend can purchase tickets at the box office, which can be reached at 972-860-4118.
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