Theme of Christ gives ‘Narnia’ a ‘different’ Christmas appeal

ORONO – It was just what the White Witch ordered.

Under her tyrannical rule, it’s always winter but never Christmas in the fictional land of Narnia. And on a recent Sunday, during a rehearsal for Orono Community Theatre’s production of “Narnia,” a thick blanket of ice and snow covered the fields and forests in town.

It also covered the roads, which kept the White Witch (Monique Gibouleau) and Mrs. Beaver (Barbara Grant) from joining the rest of the cast. But improvisation is the name of the game in theater, so stage manager Margo Lukens headed backstage with an apron in one hand and a silk tulip in the other. On this day, she would be the beaver-witch, or the witch-beaver – whichever.

Weather or not, the full cast will be on hand this weekend for the troupe’s production of the musical based on C.S. Lewis’ classic story “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” “Narnia” will be staged at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Keith Anderson Community House in Orono.

“It’s a little different,” said Bruce Johnson of Bangor, the play’s director. “We’ve had a lot of productions of “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker,” and that’s wonderful, but this will give people access to something a little different.”

Johnson, who directed a one-act play for the theater group last spring, chose “Narnia” as his musical debut because he’s a longtime fan of Lewis’ writing, both fiction and nonfiction.

“I love the allegory of the story – the allegory follows the story of Christ,” Johnson said. “It’s a children’s story, but it’s a great way for children to learn about the allegory that’s there.”

The play’s themes of kindness, loyalty, temptation and redemption are universal, however, which is part of its appeal. In “Narnia,” Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy Penvensie are shuttled off to Professor Digory Kirke’s home in the English countryside to shield them from the danger of World War II. As they explore Kirke’s home, they come across a wardrobe, and when they step inside, they end up finding a lot more than clothes – the armoire is a portal to a fairy tale land called Narnia.

There, Edmund wanders off and finds the White Witch, the evil queen who lures him away from his siblings with Turkish delight, an irresistible candy. The other three siblings meet up with all kinds of benificent characters, including Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and the gentle and wise lion Aslan, who sacrifices everything to save Edmund.

“If you look at it, it has … a deeper meaning of love and helping and goodness that breaks through evil,” said Destiny Winters, 17, of Orono. “It’s very magical and exuberant and we’re trying to portray a lot of energy.”

Though Destiny has acted in other Orono Community Theatre productions, “Narnia” is special because she and her sister Tzeitel, 12, are playing sisters onstage, as well. The girls are alternating the roles of Susan and Lucy with Hannah Cyrus, 14, and Siobhan Harrity, 10.

“I just love it here,” Tzeitel Winters said when asked what keeps her coming back to the community theater. “It’s just as if we’re a huge family.”

The family connection doesn’t end with the Winters girls – Alec and Ben Rose will play Peter and Edmund. They agreed that acting as brothers wasn’t very different from being brothers, with a few exceptions.

“It’s similar in a way, but in this, we don’t fight at all,” Alec Rose, 14, said. “We just get irritated at each other in the show.”

Both brothers love to act – Alec has tried out for every play the group has staged. They see the theater as an asset for the entire community, and they think the music and acting in “Narnia” will attract a wide audience.

“We’ve worked really hard to put it together, and I think it’s going to be a great show,” Alec said.

“Narnia” will be staged at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21, at the Keith Anderson Community House on the Bennoch Road in Orono. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors, and are available at the door or in advance at Orono Pharmacy. For more information, call Orono Parks and Rec at 866-5065. Kristen Andresen can be reached at 990-8287 or kandresen@bangordailynews.net.