The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Based on the story by C.S. Lewis
Dramatized by Joseph Robinette

Directed by David Kersnar

Four children enter the enchanted land of Narnia through an old Balinese style wardrobe in a house where they are staying. There, Lucy, Susie, Peter, and Edmond encounter fantastic animal-like characters that speak like humans. But the charmed realm is under the control of the evil White Witch, who keeps Narnia in a never ending winter. Learning the truth, the children join forces with the mysterious and legendary lion, Aslan. Together, Aslan and the children set out to free Narnia from the Witch’s evil control and end the perpetual winter.

The first book in what would become The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe remains his most popular, and has been enjoyed by millions of children and adults. This new dramatization by playwright Joseph Robinette captures all the magic, myth and symbolism of the original story.

About the MPC production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Having recently returned from a research sabbatical to Bali, director David Kersnar was struck by the similarities in some of the Balinese folktales with the imagery in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. “In my travels in Bali I was thrilled to learn that one of the main stories told in mask dance is between a lion Barong and Rangda the witch goddess. In Bali, good and evil are two sides of the same coin. The witch is both a queen and witch goddess,” Kersnar explains. “Sometimes the Witch is the terrifying Kali or sometimes the nurturing Durga, from the original Hindu religion from India.”

“I imagine that our witch must bring the freezing darkness in order for Aslan the lion to bring the lightness again,” Kersnar continues. “In our dark times today, when the world seems so divided, creating a Balinese infused Narnia seems appropriately healing. Our Bali style wardrobe will open up to feature a wantalan raised stage among rice terraces filled with animal masks from both eastern and western influences, including handmade masks by Balinese artisans. We will also incorporate topang mask dancing and wayan kulit shadow puppetry, mixed in with contemporary western artistry as well.” You can hear the excitement and pride in his voice when he states that, “Our MPC theatre students have learned authentic Balinese art forms, made them their own, and incorporated them into this production as a healing gift to our MPC Community.”

---About the Director

David Kersnar joined MPC earlier this year, jumping in headfirst as new interim chairman of the MPC Theatre Department AND directing As You Like this past November before he had even unpacked. Now he presents an exciting new version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that will showcase his recent research sabbatical to Bali and expose our MPC drama students and audiences to Balinese performing arts such as Mask Dancing and Shadow Puppetry. For those who have not yet met him, David is a founding ensemble member of Chicago’s Tony Award winning Lookingglass Theatre Company, and performed, designed and directed with the company since it was founded in 1988. He served as the Lookingglass Artistic Director from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1997 to 2000. Through diverse experiences as a teacher and professional artist, Kersnar has developed an innovative group process for creating new work that he now brings to the MPC Theatre Department and students. Visit www.mpctheatreco.com/Staff.htm to see David’s full biography.

--- About the Design Team
The Design team includes David Kersnar (Director), Doug Ridgeway (Technical Director & Scenic Design), Eric Maximoff (Master Carpenter), Gloria C. Mattos Hughes (Costume Design),  David Rigmaiden (Audio Design),Melissa Kamnikar and John Radley (Props Design), David Kersnar and Alexis Grenko (Choreographers), Max Fabian (Music Composition), Justin Gordon (Fight Choreographer) and Newman of Newman’s Commedia Mask Company (Mask Design.)

ABOUT THE MPC THEATRE CHARITABLE TRUST

The Monterey Peninsula Community Theatre Company Charitable Trust is an independent 501(c)(3) created to support the MPC theatre program by funding expenses not covered by the State educational budget. 

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Performance Dates and Times:

Ticket Information:

For tickets visit our box office*, call (831) 646-4213 or purchase online.

Regular ticket prices are: $25 Adults, $22 Seniors, $15 Young Adults (16-21) & Military, and $10 Children 15 & under. Adults and seniors can purchase tickets 24 hours in advance for $20. Group discounts are available for parties of 15 or more. All tickets to Thursday performances (Preview and Discount Thursday) are $12.50 each

Ticket to Thursday performances (Preview and Discount Thursday) are $12.50 each, or $10 for children.

On Saturday, April 22 there is a 6:30 pre-show reception with author Judy Slattum (Masks of Bali) and scholar Madé Surya, leading authorities on Balinese mask dancing. Tickets to both reception and shhow are $50 each. There is also a post-show discussion with Judy and Madé, which is open to the public.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a live theatrical performance recommended for children 5 years old and above. Please note that infants, babes-in-arms, and children in strollers or carriers are not permitted.