A Must See Show---The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Bedford Middle School

Last night I attended the opening performance of Bedford Acting Group's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Bedford Middle School in Westport. I had seen some of the sets and sat in on some rehearsals, as my son is in the show, playing the part of Grumpskin, one of the White Witch's dwarf assistants. But I was not prepared for the amazing acting, splendid staging, and wonderful script adaptation that all contributed to a spectacular and moving performance.

To enable as many students as possible to play leading roles, director Karen McCormick cast three or four students in each of the four leading roles: Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy. The sets featured a glorious wardrobe with lion-head pulls reminiscent of Aslan, painted trees, and a platform in front of the stage that brought the actors even closer to the audience. The staging was magnificent, featuring falling snow, a background that changed colors to reflect the mood of each scene, puffs of smoke when the White Witch worked her magic, and the piece de resistance of the show---a nine-foot long, five-foot high Aslan puppet operated ever-so-smoothly by three students.

The final fight scene, in which actors take to the aisles and slash their swords at each other was the liveliest part of a consistently exciting and entertaining show.

Remaining performances are tonight, Saturday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 6 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for cash or check only: $12 for adults and $10 for students.