'Lion, Witch and Wardrobe' challenges actors, director

As a child, Amanda Spenner was a happy reader whose imagination traveled through the wardrobe and into the land of Narnia, right along with Lucy Pevensie and her siblings in the fanciful classic, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Captivated by this best-known story in C.S. Lewis' seven-book series, "The Chronicles of Narnia," Spenner's mind played out the adventures of the Pevensie children in a place where it's "always winter but never Christmas" until the great lion king, Aslan, returns to make things right.

As Lewis' kindly beavers, friendly faun and evil dwarves and ogres came to life in Spenner's imagination, she never suspected that one day she would bring them to life, singing and dancing, on stage.

But this month Spenner directs a musical version of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" for Christian Youth Theater of McHenry County.

The show opens Friday and runs through the following weekend in the Performing Arts Center at Huntley High School.

CYT is an after-school theater arts program for actors up to 18 years old.

With chapters across the United States, the company is the largest youth theater in the nation; locally, it runs classes and productions in six counties.

This is Spenner's second turn at directing for CYT, though she has served as assistant director and choreographer.

She's thrilled at the chance to direct "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

"I like that after reading the story so many times myself, the show brings all the imaginings that I've had to life," she said.

Since Spenner's childhood introduction, she has reread the book three times and listened to an iPod audio version.

She challenged her actors to read the original, too, since the musical follows Lewis closely -- except for the songs.

Considered a Christian allegory, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" will be easily understood as a picture of God's redemptive relationship with his creation, she said.

Aslan clearly represents Jesus Christ, but that can present a challenge for actors raised in Christian homes.

Spenner said some of the cast struggled with the idea of having to kill the Christ figure.

"That was hard for them to have to put themselves in that position," she said.

Spenner added that the cast feels a responsibility to portray the spiritual side of the show with accuracy and sensitivity.

"The actor who plays Aslan (Algonquin's Matt Silar) came to me and said, 'I just don't want to misinterpret anything,'" Spenner said.

Playing God would be a heavy responsibility for anyone, even in a lion costume.

Spenner said that because the Bible describes Jesus with so many different qualities, actors are often not sure how to portray him.

"With different elements of the show, we try to reveal a different character trait of Aslan," she said.

"There are times when he's stern because he's the king.

"He has to be in control. There are times when he's angry, and justifiably so, because his kingdom is being threatened by the White Witch.

"Sometimes he's playful. He'll play tag with the children and laugh with them.

"He's solemn, he's wise, and then you see him almost like a teacher. He's guiding (the Pevensie children) and raising them up to be the future kings and queens of Narnia."

The Pevensies are played by Jamison McGowan as Peter; Jane Layoff as Susan; Jensen McGowan as Edmund, and Giselle Relic as Lucy.

Kara Gardner is the White Witch, Jonathan Tlapek plays Tumnus, and Chris O'Brien and Rachel Rogers are Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.

Nearly 30 students were cast as animals, but with 18 productions a year in northern Illinois, CYT has amassed quite a costume collection.

Animal outfits from "Seussical the Musical" and "Snow White" were borrowed for "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and it was largely a matter of making the pieces fit, Spenner said.

Volunteer moms on the makeup crew have had to be at the top of their game with so many critter faces to create.

Sets weren't a problem, as this show features a less-elaborate stage than some other CYT productions.

"Our show is very much driven by the cast, not by the sets," Spenner said.

The crew does produce fog, falling snow and a thunderstorm, as well as an interesting transitional effect, Spenner said.

"Hopefully, if everything works according to plan, you will actually see Lucy go from the wardrobe into Narnia on stage, without a blackout.

It actually will happen with the lights up."

Behind-the-scenes personnel include Brooke Kras as assistant director, Jennifer Evans as music director, Diann Messina as choreographer, and Josiah Payne as fight choreographer.

With the guidance of the adults, the kids are ready for a great performance, Spenner said.

"Whether they're singing, dancing or narrating, they are the ones completely carrying the story," Spenner said.

"And they're doing a phenomenal job."

If you go

What: "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" presented by Christian Youth Theater of McHenry County

When: 7 p.m., Friday and Nov. 16; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday and Nov. 17; 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 18

Where: Huntley High School Performing Arts Center, 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley

How much? Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors. At the door, add $2 per ticket. Family Day tickets are $8 each for the 2 p.m. performance on Saturday.

Call: CYT box office at (847) 516-2298.