What’s your favourite season? I love the spring, because everything is new and fresh and getting warmer, but not too hot. But what if you lived a world of only winter? Where nothing ever changes and the frozen wasteland goes on as far as the eye can see. Bad Hats’ Narnia, adapted and directed by Fiona Sauder, takes C.S. Lewis’ themes of time, change, and family and creates a whole new Narnia for the whole family to experience. Full of beautiful new songs and pure theatre magic, Bad Hats’ Narnia is the holiday show to see this year.

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy have found themselves on the doorstep of a very old and very large home. They’ve all been sent away from where they live to keep them safe, and they figured it was best to stick together, so now they’ve all arrived at the Professor’s house. The Professor is a funny gal, who often speaks in rhyme, who happily takes the children in and gives them free rein to roam about her large estate. However, during a game of hide-and-seek, Lucy finds her way into, and through, a very large coat-filled wardrobe. Leaving summer behind, the wintry world of Narnia unfolds before her. There she meets Mr. Tumnus, a fawn who is more than excited to meet the young Lucy. Soon, Lucy discovers that she and her siblings are part of a prophecy in Narnia, one which will change the course of their lives. However, the Witch of Narnia and self-proclaimed queen will do anything to stop them from fulfilling this prophecy, even if that means turning them against each other. But there are rumblings of a being named Aslan, who brings the spring with them and can help to free Narnia. Will Aslan return? And will the four siblings be able to fulfill their prophecy?

Sauder has done an impressive job in adapting Lewis’ story for today by both keeping true to the heart of the original story while also making it feel totally fresh and new. The four siblings being a found family is one of the first changes off the top, and yet one which cements a much-needed message for today’s youth, particularly this time of year. Found family, or chosen family, is equally as important as those we’re related to by blood, and can be equally as complicated too. Yet this dynamic also added another layer of potential manipulation for the Witch, which she certainly used to her advantage. A good deal of Lewis’ novels, particularly in the “Narnia” universe deal directly with religious allegory, and I was pleased to see that a good deal of those elements were removed – having it be always winter and never spring is just as disheartening as Christmas never coming. It also allows Peter to shine at the end of the story with his botanical knowledge. The Beavers stole my heart as a male couple, and the relationship between the professor and the mysterious woman whose portrait hangs in the hall adds an element of queer joy, love, and heartbreak to an already beautiful story.

However, Sauder’s focus on the theme of time and its mysteries flows through this production of Narnia, making the magical seem more so and reality questionable. “Narnia” has always played fast and loose with time: time spent in the wardrobe does not directly correlate to time in the real world. And yet wasn’t that time in Narnia real? And can’t time feel like it does the same thing in your everyday life, twisting and turning in on itself until some moments feel like a blink while others feel like years? However, it’s the refrain of “for now, all we have is right now” which pulled at my heartstrings. Staying present and understanding the good around us can be difficult, but these characters remind us that all we can have is the present moment and the folks who surround us in this moment.

Shannon Lea Doyle’s stunning set and costume design are as magical as the story they help to tell. The professor’s home, furnished in dark rich wood, encapsulates every idea we have of an English country manor. With movable staircases and surprises around every corner, Doyle’s set highlights the wonder of Narnia. Landon Doak and Jonathan Corkal-Astorga’s music likewise enhances the magic of this show; with beautiful melodies and a fresh, vibrant feel, this is truly Narnia unlike you’ve ever seen it before.

Astrid Van Wieren leads this incredible ensemble as The Professor/Aslan, bringing her inimitable warmth, her lilting narration throughout the piece makes it truly feel like a fairy tale. Amaka Umeh clearly revels in their role as the Witch, with a ferocity and charm perfectly crafted for this role. Belinda Corpuz’s Lucy is every bit as hopeful and joyful as a young child. Matthew Novary Joseph plays a soft and thoughtful Peter, while Sierra Haynes gives a powerful performance as Susan. Landon Doak’s Edmund adds a whole other emotional dimension to the production, and Doak deftly plays that part. Matt Pilipiak pulls double duty as the loveable Mr. Tumnus and one of the Mr. Beavers, bringing a brightness to both roles. Jonathan Tan plays the other Mr. Beaver, and his cheerful spirit shines through in this character. James Daly certainly gets plenty of laughs as both Trumpkin and Reepicheep/Kevin (the Kevin gag got me). With all of his characters letting Daly’s charisma shine, he’s the perfect addition to this cast. I love that before the show, all of the cast members are out on stage, talking to one another, playing music. Van Wieren, Tan, and Umeh even go through the audience talking to everyone! This feeling that we’re all in the room together, all going on this journey, and most importantly that everyone is welcome is the perfect way to begin our time with these performers.

Bad Hats’ Narnia fills you up; with its hopeful take on an already powerful story, this tale of time and love and family is a perfect fit for the holidays. A fitting reminder of the flow of time and how we all change with the seasons, Narnia allows us to find ourselves in these characters, and take a bit of them home with us as we leave. Narnia is certainly the show to bring the family to this holiday season. Let the warmth of the coats in the wardrobe, and the possibilities which lie beyond them, take you away.

Bad Hats’ Narnia runs in the Baillie Theatre until December 28. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/narnia

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Cover Photo: Top: Amaka Umeh and Astrid Van Wieren. Lower: Sierra Haynes, Jonathan Tan, Belinda Corpuz, Matt Pilipiak, Matthew Novary Joseph, and James Daly. Photography by Dahlia Katz
Set & Costume Design by Shannon Lea Doyle
Lighting Design by Logan Raju Cracknell
Sound Design by Andres Castillo-Smith
Music Direction & Supervision by Jonathan Corkal-Astorga

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