The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Directed by Ashley Sarver | Olivet Nazarene University | October 27-November 5, 2022
The most difficult battle in bringing the costumes of this show to life was maintaining the whimsy of Narnia on a budget. Many of the pieces were pulled and altered from costume storage, or made using recycled materials.
The White Witch
As the White Witch thinks of herself as a queen, I leaned towards a royal design rather than a wicked design. Her gown was made in shop and featured a hand embroidered sash.
Aslan
A direct foil to the White Witch, Aslan was dressed in a black ensemble with a gold sash. A sunlike crown sat atop her head, made by hand with wire.
Mr. Tumnus
Tumnus’s pants were made of faux fur which was also used to make his ears. His horns were 3D printed and attached to a hat.
The White Stag
The actress playing the White Stag was a trained ballerina. She was responsible for the creation of her choreography, and thus needed a costume she could easily move in, yet still maintain the grace of the stag. Together, we designed a dress that fit her perfectly, and enhanced the movements she completed. The costume was pulled together with an antler tiara made using wire, and a white hair ribbon.
The Beavers
While the characters of the Beavers were puppets, I wanted the puppeteers to feel just as much a part of Narnia as everyone else. We worked carefully to costume the actors in a fantasy style that was still distinctly “beaver”. The puppeteer’s hats had small ears made of the same fur as their puppets, and a tartan pattern was used to give the illusion of a tail on Mrs. Beaver’s skirt and Mr. Beaver’s tailcoat.
The Children
As the children began to become a part of Narnia, their costumes began to reflect that. Peter and Edmund donned tunics on the eve of battle, Susan was given a gown, and Lucy added a belt to her outfit.
