It’s appropriate that the final production in the old Lake Oswego Junior High School auditorium is filled with magic and adventure.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” brings C.S. Lewis’s first book in the Chronicles of Narnia to life on stage.
“I like getting to be very regal because in every other play that I’ve ever done, I’ve been the comic relief, so I haven’t really tried out that type of character,” said seventh grader Natalie Anderson, who plays the lion Aslan, King of Narnia. “It’s fun to learn how to play that character.”.
The play is about the four Penvesie children, who, during World War II, flee London to stay with an elderly member of their extended family. Lucy, the youngest sibling, discovers the magical world of Narnia in the back of a wardrobe.
Eighth grader Lucas Fiscus plays Peter, the eldest of the Penvesie children, and said performing in the final play on the LOJ stage is a “big responsibility.”
“I did drama classes here in sixth and seventh grade, but I decided to finally join in eighth grade. I decided I’m just gonna try it, have some fun with it,” said Lucas. “I think the group is all very creative and energetic, which allows the quote-unquote ‘magic’ to be thrown out there.”
The world of Narnia is foundational to fantasy storytelling, filled with magical elements like talking animals, but is also distinctly English with tea-drinking and the arrival of Father Christmas. The production involves big costumes and stage-combat, which the students practiced enthusiastically.
“Crew and cast are a pretty close community, pretty tight-knit. People think they’re completely separate, but they are like one thing,” said eighth grader Gabriel Pancoast, a stage manager for the play. “I think it’s nice that we get to be the last people to do this, but it’s a little more pressure.”
Lucas said he’s excited to start taking theater classes as a ninth grader at Lake Oswego High School.
“I like doing the directing because it’s being with the actual people, helping them get better and learn and make the show better, that’s what’s really important,” Lucas said.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” will be the final play on the LOJ stage. After the school year ends the old building will be demolished so the rebuild of the new Lake Oswego Middle School can begin.
“It’s a great one to end on; it’s a classic. The amount of love and respect I have for this community, and especially for this stage, is really tremendous and I really appreciate it,” said Jasper Calderon, an eighth grader.
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” opens at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 and continues at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3 and 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. Tickets cost $10.
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