The Magician’s Nephew: Little Magic in this script
Photo credit: Claude Haché
American playwright Aurand Harris apparently believes that morals rammed down the throats of young audiences will be best remembered if repeated and rammed a little harder the second and third time. (Harris, author of some 36 plays for children is best known for his Androcles and the Lion.)
His 1955 dramatization/adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis must have seemed heavy-handed even 60 years ago. In the 21st century, it is well beyond its best-before date.
Perhaps this is why the performances in the 9th Hour Theatre Company production creak more than a little with wooden characterizations and unconvincing accents.
The good news about the show directed by Jonathan Harris is the imaginative staging and interesting puppetry. The most effective and credible sections of the production are through the scene changes from real to fantasy worlds, the movements of the “animals” and the sight of Aslan the Lion filling the stage. It is a pity that the fluid movement between the worlds is hampered by awkward dialogue and stilted acting.
The Magician’s Nephew played at the Studio Theatre, Centrepointe from March 12 to 16, 2014.
Dramatized by Aurand Harris
Adapted from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
9th Hour Theatre Company
Director: Jonathan Harris
Technical director: Kyle Ahluwalia
Set: Emily Sousanna
Lighting: John Solman
Costumes: Mishelle Stott
Music: Margaret Smith
Puppet design: Grace Solman
Cast:
Digory……………………………………………………………….Darren Emery
Polly…………………………………………………………………Sarah Stapleton
Aunt Letty/puppeteer..………………………………………………Janet Rice
Uncle Andrew……………………………………………………….Paul Washer
Queen Jadis………………………………………………………….Gabrielle Lazarovitz
Aslan/puppeteer…………………………………………………….. Ken Tucker
Bird…………………………………………………………………. Caroline Baldwin
Monkey………………………………………………………………Nicholas Amott
Rabbit……………………………………………………………….. Bekah Shirey
Bear…………………………………………………………………… Jeff Lefebvre
Musicians………………………………………….…Martain Pearson, Margaret Smith