Youth theater stages classic C.S. Lewis tale

‘Narnia’ features a number of East County performers

By Rob Cullivan

The Gresham Outlook, Jan 21, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jonathan Bartlett plays Peter, Julia Reidlinger plays Susan, Brady Johnson plays Edmund, and Katherine Pen plays Lucy in "Narnia," which puts C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to music.

Contributed photo

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Katherine Pen, 12, of southeast Portland, says she’s become a nicer person.

That’s because she’s playing the part of Lucy, one of four children whose story is told in the C.S. Lewis classic “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Christian Youth Theater Vancouver/Portland will present “Narnia,” a musical adaptation of the tale, at Sam Barlow High School over the next two weekends.

Pen says playing Lucy was a bit difficult at first because her character is the musical’s youngest sibling, whereas in real life, Katherine is the oldest of three.

“It’s giving me a perspective of how my siblings feel,” Pen says of her role. “In the beginning (Lucy is) kind of almost like an annoying little sister,” she adds, noting her character can veer from “sweet” to “pouty.”

“Basically, throughout the show she’s growing up, becoming more forgiving,” Katherine says.

Classic closet

Irish writer C.S. Lewis placed his tale during the World War II Blitz against London when the four Pevensie children – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy – are evacuated to the country home of Professor Kirke.

Eventually, the children discover Narnia, a magical land they can enter through a wardrobe closet. While there, they assist the great lion, Aslan, in his struggles with the White Witch.

Jonathan Bartlett, 16, of Gresham, plays Peter, the oldest brother. Like the other characters, he evolves over the course of the play, Jonathan says.

“His father is in the war, so he takes over as caregiver for the kids,” Jonathan says of Peter. “He learns to respect his younger brother and basically believe in himself as well.”

Jonathan says this is his first major role on stage.

“I was kind of nervous at first because I really didn’t do well in the auditions,” he says. However, he received a call back, got the part and is looking forward to singing and acting.

“I grew up with the ‘Narnia’ stories,” he says. “I’m really into all the swordfights and battles and things.”