Lion, Witch, Wardrobe
Nov. 9th, 2003 08:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Yesterday I went to see Seattle Childrens Theater production of, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
The SCT stages plays with professional actors and elaborate sets and costumes for children. I think they are *far* superior to the Minneapolis Children's theater (which IMO is self-indulgent, agenda-driven and just boring). The show was all right: the costumes were good but not great--they were of the "mostly people with some animal part" variety (a tail, ears, etc.); if this had been a play about human characters, I would have given it much higher marks (the costumes were very good, just not animal-enough for me). The werewolf in particular was very sad (just a limp, furry-con tail and nothing else). And this was definitely one of those shows where the songs were irritatingly superfluous and occurred at inappropriate moments (the damn beavers sing a song about eating fish!). The creative staff had clearly seen "The Lion King" (nobody does Michael Curry well except Michael Curry), "Into the Woods" and "Les Mis" (Lucy sings an Eponine-like knock-off of "On My Own" for no really good reason). Still, there were monsters and giants and swordfights, so the kids enjoyed it (therefore it was a success).
Later that evening (on our way to lunar-eclipse viewing over a fish dinner), Steve and Bev and I had a lively discussion about C.S. Lewis and his beliefs. I know he was very much a "Christian" writer, but I was boggled by the mix of Pagan and Christian elements in his books. If it had merely been "Christian animals" vs. "Pagan bad-guys (satyrs, witches, etc.)" I would have understood...but his books seem to respect/elevate fundemental Pagan themes ("Deep Magic" and the Stone Table) right along with ordinary Christian themes.
Per Bev and Steve, apparently C.S. Lewis -did- consider himself a fundy Christian, but in the British sense-- where the "Noble Pagan" isn't evil or "of the devil" (like it's considered by many US fundies). The Nobel Pagans could still ascend to heaven if they worshipped God without knowing they were doing do (big, confusing loophole here...) Still, Lewis's views (through his writing) are an interesting study in contradiction. Anyone else have any thoughts on his beliefs?
[EDIT: Why does the "thoughful" icon look like a farting Smiley-face?!?]
The SCT stages plays with professional actors and elaborate sets and costumes for children. I think they are *far* superior to the Minneapolis Children's theater (which IMO is self-indulgent, agenda-driven and just boring). The show was all right: the costumes were good but not great--they were of the "mostly people with some animal part" variety (a tail, ears, etc.); if this had been a play about human characters, I would have given it much higher marks (the costumes were very good, just not animal-enough for me). The werewolf in particular was very sad (just a limp, furry-con tail and nothing else). And this was definitely one of those shows where the songs were irritatingly superfluous and occurred at inappropriate moments (the damn beavers sing a song about eating fish!). The creative staff had clearly seen "The Lion King" (nobody does Michael Curry well except Michael Curry), "Into the Woods" and "Les Mis" (Lucy sings an Eponine-like knock-off of "On My Own" for no really good reason). Still, there were monsters and giants and swordfights, so the kids enjoyed it (therefore it was a success).
Later that evening (on our way to lunar-eclipse viewing over a fish dinner), Steve and Bev and I had a lively discussion about C.S. Lewis and his beliefs. I know he was very much a "Christian" writer, but I was boggled by the mix of Pagan and Christian elements in his books. If it had merely been "Christian animals" vs. "Pagan bad-guys (satyrs, witches, etc.)" I would have understood...but his books seem to respect/elevate fundemental Pagan themes ("Deep Magic" and the Stone Table) right along with ordinary Christian themes.
Per Bev and Steve, apparently C.S. Lewis -did- consider himself a fundy Christian, but in the British sense-- where the "Noble Pagan" isn't evil or "of the devil" (like it's considered by many US fundies). The Nobel Pagans could still ascend to heaven if they worshipped God without knowing they were doing do (big, confusing loophole here...) Still, Lewis's views (through his writing) are an interesting study in contradiction. Anyone else have any thoughts on his beliefs?
[EDIT: Why does the "thoughful" icon look like a farting Smiley-face?!?]