Ok, wow -- it's been a year ago in November that the cast of ACT's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe production performed our final show in 2012.
I really do wish it could have gone on and on and on forever; maybe as a regular yearly thing, like The Nutcracker is every November for dancers. :) But anyway, (since I'm terrible about getting pictures up in a timely manner...) here are some pictures from the production. It was a great show, and I'm so thankful I was able to be a part of it!
(disclaimer: these pictures were not taken by me -- but purchased through the original photographer)
...Since there are so many pictures and I couldn't narrow them down enough... :P I'm splitting the pictures up into two posts...
As the story opens, Lucy discovers a gorgeous, enormous wardrobe while radio news clips of the war in London play in the background. She steps inside to feel the coats -- and two spritely creatures appear, (one is my little brother) closing the door behind her.
The wardrobe is turned, and out steps Lucy into... Wait. Why is there snow inside a wardrobe?
From behind a group of trees a White Stag appears, leaping off into the brush behind a Lamppost, and Lucy follows the creature into the woods.
In another part of this world-reached-by-a-wardrobe, the Beavers, the Centaur, and the Unicorn are discussing rumors that their King, Aslan, has returned. And how they are expecting the arrival of human children, just as the long foretold Prophesy had stated.
Their conversation is quickly brought to an end by the voice of the evil Fenris Ulf, reprimanding the faun Tumnus for leaving his assigned post as a human-catcher. The other animals scatter before they can be caught by the wolf, and Fenris Ulf leaves Tumnus to check on the other sentinels.
A moment later, Lucy appears, scaring Mr. Tumnus and herself. But the two quickly become friends; Tumnus tells Lucy she is in the land of Narnia, and he, the Sprites and the Wood Nymphs invite Lucy to join them in a lively dance.
Mr. Tumnus invites Lucy to tea, after which he intends to lull her to sleep and turn her over to the White Witch, as ordered by Fenris Ulf. But Tumnus has a kind heart, and can't bring himself to carry out the kidnapping. Instead, he escorts Lucy quietly back to the Lamppost and the Wardrobe door, then sneaks back home in hopes that Fenris Ulf will never know...
But the wolf is on him in a moment; Fenris drags the helpless Mr. Tumnus off to the Witch, stopping only long enough to order the Nymphs and Sprites to destroy the faun's house, and hang a warning nearby for any other Narnians who might have similar traitorous ideas.
The Nymphs plead with Fenris to let Tumnus and his home go unharmed, but he will hear none of it, and drags the poor faun off to meet the 'mercy' of the Witch.
Not long after, Lucy's brother Edmund stumbles through the Wardrobe and finds himself in Narnia. The sound of sleigh bells ring out and a cold, pale lady calling herself the Queen of Narnia appears, followed by a groveling, sinister-looking dwarf.
Upon seeing Edmund, the Queen asks all kinds of questions; Is he a Son of Adam - a Human? Where did he come from? Are there any more Humans with him?
When Edmund tells her he has a brother and two sisters, she is outraged, muttering under her breath about Prophesies and thrones-- causing Edmund to ask what's wrong.
The Queen catches herself abruptly. "Oh-- Nothing. Nothing at all. I just meant it's... horrible that your brother and sisters aren't here now... I would make them Duke and Duchesses of this land! But Edmund, because you are special and I found you first, I would make you the Prince of Narnia."
She orders the dwarf to bring Edmund something hot to drink.
With a drop from a tiny flask, she fills a silver box with Turkish Delight. "Enjoy, my little Prince. Bring your brother and sisters to... meet me, at my castle," the Queen orders Edmund. "And when you do, I will give you whole rooms filled with Turkish Delight."
"But don't tell the others about me just yet. I want them to be... surprised when they meet me. Let's keep this visit our little secret." And with that, she turns to go. "Come Dwarf. We have much to do in a short time."
Edmund watches them disappear into the forest, then hurries back through the Wardrobe to bring his brother and sisters, counting the minutes until he can become a king.
When all four siblings do come through the Wardrobe, it is because of Lucy's begging them to visit Mr. Tumnus. But as soon as they arrive they meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver instead, who inform them of Tumnus' arrest by the Fenris Ulf not long before.
Lucy is in despair for Mr. Tumnus, but the Beavers explain to the children that their best hope lies with their King, Aslan, who has returned to Narnia and will help the children defeat the White Witch.
But before the Beavers can escort the children to Aslan, Edmund slips away to meet the Witch in all the bustle and excitement of a visit from Father Christmas, who has come to bring the children gifts. When the Beavers and the children realize that Edmund has gone to the Witch, they hurry on their way to meet Aslan in hopes of saving both him and Mr. Tumnus.
Edmund finds his way into the courtyard of the Witch, still convinced she can't be evil like the Beavers said. But upon seeing dozens of stone statues, creatures frozen in pained, pleading positions, he begins to second guess the 'Queen' himself.
The Witch is furious to see that Edmund has not brought his siblings. "How dare you come alone!" Edmund is shaken. "I brought them as close as I could! They're with the Beavers... and they're going to the Stone Table to meet someone called Aslan—"
"Never speak that Name in my presence again!" the Witch explodes. "The rumors must be true; if He has returned, then that is why the snows are beginning to melt. Fenris Ulf, go ahead of us and catch the other Humans and those Beavers before they reach the Stone Table."
"Your majesty," the Dwarf hesitates to speak, "the sleigh cannot travel without snow -- we will sink into the mud."
"Then we will walk, fool," says the Witch. "Tie the hands of this Human creature behind him. Drive him ahead of us — with your whip."
In the meantime, the other three children and the Beavers have made it to the Stone Table safely, and the children meet the most majestic, powerful King they will ever know: the Great Lion, Aslan.
Of course the children anxiously ask how Edmund can be saved. "All shall be done," Aslan tells them. "But it may be harder than you think."
Just then, Fenris Ulf bounds in among Aslan's creatures, snarling and challenging them to fight him. But Aslan tells them to hold. "Stay back; this is Peter's battle."
"What? Me?" Peter asks. The wolf wastes no time in words. "I will make short work of him," Fenris Ulf growls and lunges at Peter.
A fierce fight ensues, with Peter just barely escaping each blow alive. Then in a split second, Peter's sword flashes, the wolf leaps on top of him — and lets out a terrible howl before stumbling away with a bloody wound in his side, defeated.
"Some of you follow him," Aslan orders. "He will go back to the Witch, and lead you to the other Son of Adam. And Peter, kneel." Aslan touches Peter's shoulders with the sword. "Rise, Sir Peter Fenris Bane, knight of Narnia."
Fenris Ulf stumbles back to the Witch. "What is this?" she demands. "Who has done this to you?"
"The other...Son of Adam," the wolf wheezes, "at the bidding of...Aslan—"
"Do not dare to speak that Name in my presence!" the Witch cries.
"But He is here — at the Stone Table," says the wolf. "Now let me go...into that thicket, where I may rest...forever." he crawls away with a groan.
"Now the Prophesy will surely come true..." the Dwarf laments.
"No," says the Witch. "There are four thrones at Cair Paravel." She turns to Edmund. "If only three are occupied, then the Prophesy can never be fulfilled. Prepare the victim!" She raises a dagger above Edmund, but is distracted by the sound of approaching voices. "The forces of Aslan. We are outnumbered; Quick, we must disappear."
The Witch and the Dwarf vanish into the trees before Aslan's followers spot Edmund and gently carry him back to Aslan at the Stone Table.
...And I'll post the rest in Post 2, since this one is by far long enough already. :P
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