Travel to Narnia with Kirk Players
Kirk Players will present its spring production, C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," adapted by Joseph Robinette, at 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, at Mundelein High School Theatre.
The group will offer additional performances of the children's story at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2.
The adventure centers on four siblings, Peter (Aaron Stone), Susan (Maya Sarkis), Edmund (Max Dunlap) and Lucy (Hannah Earich), who discover the enchanted land of Narnia and find themselves enjoined to fulfill a prophecy that returns spring to Narnia, rids the land of the evil White Witch (Sara Gunther) and her henchmen, Fenris Ulf (Jeff Griffith) and Dwarf (Jeanna Daebelliehn), and has them rule as rightful kings and queens.
In their quest to help the mythical creatures of Narnia - Tumnus the faun (Robert Markle), Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (Randy Rice and Amy Hansen), the Centaur (Martin Hill) and the Unicorn (Lisa Soare) - they meet Aslan, the Great Lion (Jeff Harding).
Before the story ends, the siblings are bound up in a life-and-death struggle to save Narnia and, in so doing, learn new lessons of love, faith, heroic courage and true sacrifice.
"The play is so well-written and provides acting opportunities for all ages. We are thrilled to have such talented children and teens joining adults to play 40 roles in this magical classic," said Jon Matousek, director of the show.
"Mr. Lewis' story is so popular with kids and adults alike. He mixes in such fascinating realms: Middle Earth, mythical, even scriptural. Dancing wood nymphs, talking forest animals and the witch's army creatures; it's got everything!"
"The audience will enjoy some of the enchanting special effects we have built into the show, too," set designer Brenda Sparks said. "The land of Narnia must undergo a seasonal transformation to stay true to the story, so we've gotten a kick out of engineering some tricks the kids are sure to love."
Supporting Matousek are assistant director Jessica Motyka, stage manager Catie Hein, and assistant stage manager Nathaniel Brautigam. Additional technical expertise is led by technical director Jeff Harding, costume master Fred Vipond, special effects engineer Gary Gunther, set-art design Vance Mellen, sound design Justin Sanchak, props mistress Amy Cruz, lighting design Sara Gunther, makeup design Lisa Willems and choreographer Jeanna Daebelliehn.
For information and tickets, call (847) 521-6192 or visit www.kirkplayers.org. Discounts are available for groups.
• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.