Lake City Playhouse staging story of Aslan
Tracey Vaughan enters stage left with a bullhorn in her hand that she hopes she doesn’t have to use. She knows how to project her voice. She announces that she’ll wait a moment until she has everyone’s attention, and the house is hushed. She instantly has the attention of 41 wood nymphs, fauns, ogres, centaurs, dwarves, soldiers and assorted forest animals. And their parents.
“The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” a play based on the book by C.S. Lewis, is the legendary story of Aslan, the White Witch, and four not-so-ordinary children. The timeless tale of Narnia, recently made into a Disney movie, is being told by a cast of more than 40 children at the Lake City Playhouse this month.
“I loved the story as a child,” says Vaughan, director of the production. “It’s a classic tale that appeals to folks of every age. It sends out messages of hope, giving, goodness, love. It’s a solid story that can stand on its own with its elements of fantasy, childhood imagination and adventure.”
Three hundred children auditioned for parts. Playing the roles of the British children are Luke Stormogipson as Peter; Erin Anders as Susan; Caleb Ratelle as Edmund; and Jordan Ferraro as Lucy. The actors were surprised, however, when Vaughan told them not to worry about British accents.
“Working with such a large cast of children, some of whom are as young as 6, I thought it would best serve the play if we just told the story and didn’t worry about accents,” Vaughan says. “Luckily, the tale of Narnia transcends national boundaries.”
Vaughan did insist on using real fighting techniques for the battle scenes, however. The cast trained with Mike Winderman, a fight choreographer, to learn some tricky stage combat moves without anyone getting hurt.
“It’s crazy!” Vaughan laughs. “There are something like 20 fights going on simultaneously, using weapons and claws. With child actors! We’ve managed to learn some safety techniques and they’re doing a good job, but I always breathe a sigh of relief when the battle is over.”
Other notable cast members are Elisha Toews as the White Witch, Troy Lamabert as Aslan, Dan Taylor as Fenris Ulf, Bryant Larsen as Mr. Beaver and Sarah Reed as Mrs. Beaver.
Parent involvement is required in this community theater production. Each parent is asked to serve on a support committee, helping with props, sets, makeup, or as supervisors.
“There’d be no way to manage a cast of 41 children without substantial help,” Vaughan says. “There are the three stage managers and three or four parents in attendance at every rehearsal.”
Kennedi Ferraro, 9, has been cast as the only rabbit. This is her sixth play. She says she’s enjoying this play in particular because “I get to hop around lot, and I have a cool costume with a big tail and big ears.”
She thinks “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” will be appropriate for anyone over 4 years old.
“Even 2 or 3 years old would be OK because the kids will be with their parents,” she says. “There’s just one scene that’s a little scary – when Aslan dies – but the end is OK.”