NARNIA – REVIEW OF 2025 BAD HATS THEATRE PRODUCTION

Reviewed by James Karas 

Narnia is a new adaptation of C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by Fiona  Sauder with music and lyrics by Landon Doak. The production by Bad Hats Theatre is now playing at the Young Centre in the Distillery District. It is a musical that Bad Hats Theatre tells us is “for kids and kids at heart ….. takes you on a journey through the wardrobe you’ll never forget.”

For those who have not read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the second part of Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, it tells a story of magic and adventure in another world. Peter (Matthew Novary Joseph), Lucy (Belinda Corpuz), Susan (Sierra Haynes) and Edmund (Landon Doak) are sent to the house of a Professor (Astrid Van Wieren, also Aslan), a safe place away from the wartime bombardments of London in World War II. Lucy goes through the rear wall of a wardrobe and ends up in Narnia, a magical place that has continuous winter and is ruled by a bad White Witch (Amaka Umeh).

She meets Tumnus (Matt Pilipiak, also Mr. B)  who is half goat and half human. Initially he wants to report Lucy to the Witch but befriends her and does not turn her over. He suffers serious consequences from the Witch. Edmund befriends the Witch and becomes loyal to her. In any event, the forces of good, represented by Aslan the lion, and the children face the White Witch and the forces of Evil. You can guess the outcome but I will tell you that the four children become Kings and Queens of Narnia. And they return to the Professor’s house without the passage of any time between their sojourn in Narnia and their return to our world.

A scene from Narnia. Photo: Dahlia Katz

The production has enormous production values starting with Sauder’s adaptation and Doak’s music and lyrics. The production is lively, well-acted, amusing but never overbearing. The mood is set by Wieren as the kindly professor and as the decent and never frightful Lion. The music and songs are enjoyable, down-home folksy and a delight to the ear.

The White Witch may have done bad things but she is not disgustingly evil. Besides we know that the good guys will win. Wieren as the kindly Professor and Aslan the lion is friendly and, wearing a simple robe as the lion, she would not scare anyone. The four siblings do superb work with Belinda Corpuz being exceptional as Lucy.

James Daly plays Trumpkin, the Witch’s councilor and, most importantly, handles and speaks for Reepicheep, the mouse. It is on wheels and held by Daly on a stick and he “speaks” and squeals for it quite hilariously.

The set designed by Shannon Lea Doyle features three low staircases on wheels that are put to good use in the drama and charm of the play.

This Narnia seems like a family affair. Sauder adapted and directed the production as well as co-choreographing it with Rohan Dhupar. Doak composed the music and plays Edmund. Pilipiak plays Tumnus and Mr. B as well as being the dramaturg and Associate Director. Jonathan Corkal-Astorga is the Music Supervisor, Orchestrator, Arranger, and Music Director and is also a member of the Ensemble. Excellent work.

Narnia is a coproduction of Bad Hats, Soulpepper and Crow’s Theatres.
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Narnia adapted by Fiona Sauder continues until December 28, 2025, at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Tank House Lane, Toronto, Ontario. www.soulpepper.ca.

James Karas is the Senior Editor, Culture, of The Greek Press, Toronto