- Father Christmas talks ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’ - December 14, 2018
FAIRBANKS–The Hap Ryder Riverfront Theatre buzzed with excitement, different conversations mingling together as audience members, ranging from children as young as 5 to seniors as old as 80, chattered amongst themselves. The stage was painted a glittering blue with platforms on either side. A lit lamp-post stood center stage in front of a forest landscape backdrop, reminding one of a winter wonderland.
As the lights began to dim, a spotlight shone on a woman center stage. She smiled proudly, introducing the magnificent tale that the audience was about to watch.
Fairbanks Drama Association’s adaptation of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis’ classic tale of magic and bravery in the land of Narnia, provided a captivating two-hour escape into a battle between good and evil.
“It’s a cute show,’ said Marilyn Toupe, who attended the play with her granddaughter. “Everyone put a lot of effort into it. It was fun to watch.’
The production, directed by Valinda Taylor, was announced a year in advance. Planning of the set and other elements followed. Actors were cast with three and a half months before opening night and focused on creating a memorable cast of characters.
“The challenging part about bringing the script to life,’ said Mark Haroldson, who played the role of Father Christmas, “is that you’re dealing with 25 different cast members. The director encouraged us to think deeply about our characters and their personalities.’
Discussing his own character, Haroldson said that he imagined C.S. Lewis was originally going for a very old being that had been around for centuries and centered his character around that idea.
He found the iconic scene in which Father Christmas gives the children their weapons especially meaningful. “In this scene, the play comes to a screeching halt,’ Haroldson said. “This is a hallowed moment. I’m making these kids grow up. I was in the service myself and saw kids who were barely legal handed rifles. It changes everything.’
Haroldson believes that this is where FDA brings something new to the classic story. “You get a little room to [decide how your character is going to be] in community theatre. You do not get that in larger productions,’ he said. “Every person tells the story of their character a little different than the person before them.’
“This play was really enjoyable to watch,’ said Jesse David, a member of Saturday’s audience. “It was really fun, and I think that it is a perfect show to see with your family this winter.’
For more information about future productions or to find out how to get involved: Visit “Fairbanks Drama Association’ on Facebook. Or visit their website: www.fairbanksdrama.org.