[VIDEO] Preview 'Lion, Witch and Wardrobe'

Update, Thursday, 8 p.m.: I had the privilege of seeing the students in action tonight, before their big performance tomorrow. And they were kind enough, after many hours at work, to keep at it for a few more moments for the sake of this preview video. 

Peter Royston directs, Vera Zamdmer talks about her puppet-making craft, and the students perform a few short and magical bits from the world of Narnia.

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From Sleepy Hollow Middle School play director Peter Royston:

Now that the WIZ has left the building in triumph, it's time for THE WITCH to take over! Come see THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE this weekend at Sleepy Hollow Middle School, featuring a cast of 50 amazing young performers, huge and breathtaking puppets, a magical wardrobe that transforms before your eyes and this wonderful poster by Lynda Fassa! Don't miss this magical production!

Rehearsals are going well. My idea with THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE was that the Wardrobe symbolizes theatre and the imaginative spirit. The kids in the story come from a dangerous world: England in 1939 during the Blitz. They go through an ordinary wardrobe and into a magical world. This is what we all do when we go to the theatre - leave our ordinary lives and enter a new world with fresh ideas and viewpoints. So I wanted the inhabitants of Narnia to have a theatrical feeling, to be literally larger than life.

The puppets Vera Zamdmer created for the White Witch and the Lion Guardian Aslan are about ten feet tall each and are controlled by three young actors each. The other citizens of Narnia, whether they are the leopards and Dryads on the side of good or the ogres and minotaurs on the side of darkness, are all large elaborate puppets. We are so lucky to have Vera and other creative parents like Stewart Lee, Mary Lazin and Joel Sherry who created our beautiful Wardrobe that literally transforms before your eyes. All this is nothing, however, without the wonderful and very hard work of our group of about 50 young actors - they truly bring Narnia to life. 

I also want to mention Lynda Fassa, the extraordinary local artist (and also the mom of one of the girls playing the White Witch!) who created the arresting image for our poster.

Come see the show: Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at noon at the Middle School/High School Auditorium!

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