REVIEW: Narnia
Narnia
Merton Gardens, 13 June - 17 June
A student production of Narnia, performed outside no less, strikes one at first as a potentially disastrous, if nobly quixotic act. But there is no failure here: simply joy-inducing excellence. This production is undeniably and delightfully magical. The setting of lovely old Merton College and its expansive pretty gardens turns out to be infinitely preferable to a dingy, cramped theatre, and there are numerous moments when the setting is imaginatively exploited.
It offers a wonderful sense of scale, with the Pevensie children being able to genuinely run about, and actually travel to places rather than simply walk off stage. There is not a painted backdrop in sight: sun-dappled trees, bushes, and stone steps are all real, present, and part of the play. Nature is here invested with the kind of enchantment that Wordsworth perceived instinctually.
An important part of this is the production being en promenade: that is, the audience follows the play as it moves around Merton gardens. At first this is unsettlingly peculiar, but it ultimately works to captivate: “We’re off!” shout the beavers, and so we are. The audience follows them as they make their escape. We are in Narnia itself, and not simply watching it. The garden setting morphs into the magical kingdom as the action unfolds.
It is a neat adaptation by Merton student J C H Potts. Elisions are noticeable for fans, but never detrimental, and the essential jolly hockey-sticks flavour is thankfully maintained. There are impressive animal masks created by Ben Hunt, and I must applaud the actors’ attention to replicating the physical mannerisms of the animals or mythological beasts they play. There is only one problem: the depressingly modish attempts to paganize certain elements of the story come off as annoyingly naff.
Forget that, though. A battle reenactment society guide the audience through to the gardens, and later take up weapons for the climactic final battle. That is right: you get to watch a giant battle, complete with full armour and weaponry, atmospheric flaming torches and live music, in the middle of Merton College gardens. This whole play is bewilderingly ambitious yet, vitally, it achieves its aims. It is like stepping into the novel. Perfect.
I cannot recommend its scope, ambition or execution highly enough.
8th Jun 2006