Review by Paul Towers, 9/2/24
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Glyn Robbins, adapted from the book by CS Lewis
Directed by Amy Walters
Produced by Festival Players
At Loughborough Town Hall until 10th February 2024
“an entertaining show”
CS Lewis’ best known work, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, is understandably a staple for amateur theatre producers as it has ample room within the story for numerous local youngsters to enjoy being part of a stage show.
Unfortunately, the success of the production relies heavily on the quality of the sets and special effects and they cost money. Something most amateur companies are short of.
The Festival Players at Loughborough Town Hall have a reputation for putting on professional standard shows. Unfortunately this production falls short of their usual high standards. There was nothing wrong with the acting, it as good as any production I have seen from them. What let it down were the sets and general production values; scene changes were invariably clunky.
That said high praise has to go to the actors, especially the children, Peter (William Evans), Susan (Maisie Ramsey), Edmund (Max Hayman) and Lucy (Elspeth McClymount-Cornell). As the children explore the world of Narnia through the magic wardrobe they come up against the villain of the piece, The White Witch (Julie Easter channelling Hannah Waddingham!) as they search to release Mr Tumnus (Michael Arrowsmith) from her clutches. Along the way they are helped by Mr Beaver (Gareth Busson) and his Mrs (Claire Malpas). Of course the ‘star’ of the show is Aslan the Lion of the title, a giant puppet voiced by James Daw (or was it Brian Blessed?).
All in all it is an entertaining show but could have done with more money spent on it
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