Friday, November 7, 2003
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Friday, November 7, 2003 |
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Large cast brings Narnia to life in NCT’s ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ By MICHAEL BOYLAN Sometimes, another world can be found in the most unusual places. In C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the first installment of his Chronicles of Narnia series, four children hide in a wardrobe and enter the world of Narnia. Narnia is a land locked in eternal winter because of a curse from the White Witch. Aslan, the good king, returns and fights the witch alongside the children. This beloved tale will be presented as part of the Newnan Community Theatre Company’s Popcorn Series starting this Friday. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is directed by Laurel Alford and features a cast of 47 children between the ages of 5-17. The children, all from the Southern Crescent, represent 27 different public and private schools and also includes nine home-schooled children. It is the largest cast that Alford has dealt with, but she has found the cast to be very dedicated to the play. “One of the challenges has been keeping some of the younger children focused on their parts, but that is where the older kids have been really helpful,” said Alford. “They are very strong actors, who have been able to memorize their scripts quickly and have really helped the younger kids along.” It also helps that much of the cast is very familiar with the series. Some of the cast members are so familiar with the story that they know every detail and also know how the characters progress through the series. The books are still very popular with young readers and continue to find new audiences each year. “It has been very rewarding to see so many children take an active interest in literature and theater,” said Alford. One of the major attractions to this production will be an amazing set that uses all of the space in the Black Box Theatre, which is located in the same building as the main stage theater. There are trees, bridges, caves and more. The audience will be in the world of Narnia for the entire show and the action will constantly be going on around them. This should be especially impressive when the ultimate battle between good and evil occurs and all 47 cast members are on stage simultaneously. The theater can seat between 80 and 90 people, so audiences will be very close to the action. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” will be presented Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 7-23. Performances will be at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. For groups of 10 or more ordering in advance, there will be a $2 discount per ticket. Phone 770-683-NCTC to reserve your tickets.
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