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 learned towards a royal design rather than a wicked design. Her gown was made in shop and featured a hand embroidered sash.
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.
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.
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.
