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The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, All Saints Dramatic Society, De La Salle Theatre, Southbourne

WHENEVER I’ve looked in the back of a wardrobe all I’ve ever found is dust and the odd mislaid shoe, so I was delighted to be drawn into the strange land that four London evacuees found during a game of hide-and-seek.

And that land, Narnia, gave the large and talented All Saints cast the opportunity to play not only humans but trees, satyrs and a wide variety of animals – which they did with total conviction.

Thanks to some first-rate characterisations, not least from those playing the children – Rob Arrowsmith (Peter), Katy Jackson (Susan), Adam Davis (Edmund) and Jodie Doddington (Lucy), the slightly disturbing story of the terrorising reign of the White Witch (a superb Rosie Hodgkinson) was totally gripping. I could probably have done without the rather strange and unmemorable songs, but no matter.

Did I cheer when the lion Aslan (Mark Andrews) came back to life? Well, no, but I did shed a tear. And I loved Kevin Knight’s benevolent, mysterious Professor Kirk, the adorable Mr & Mrs Beaver (Richard Fudge and Jenny Wise), Phil Vivian’s sad Tumnus and Tony Edwards’ gnomish Grumpskin. Full marks too to those ‘statues’ for being so realistic.

If panto isn’t your thing, do go along to this show. Other wardrobes were never so exciting.

Linda Kirkman

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