For both the young and the young at heart, Playmakers of Baton Rouge is bringing to life one of the most beloved fantasy stories of all time.
Playmakers will present C.S. Lewis’ famous story, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” tonight through Sunday at the Manship Theatre.
The play is a remounting of the performance in 2005.
“The first time we did the show, it was very well received by the public,” said Karli Henderson, business manager and education coordinator for Playmakers. “People loved it so much we thought we’d bring it back.”
The play’s set is minimal, consisting of only a wardrobe, a coat rack and a box, Henderson said.
Two actors will perform the show by playing multiple roles, altering the way they move and talk to create other characters.
Neena Kelstrom, the play’s director, said the actor-driven show, dramatized from C.S. Lewis’ original story by le Clanche’ du Rand, is an entertaining mix of storytelling and acting.
“It takes a lot of skill to be able to bounce back and forth and play about six characters each,” Kelstrom said. “As a director, I want to make sure everything is clear, but the pressure is really on them.”
The two-actor adaptation toured with the Lincoln Center of New York.
Kelstrom, who started as an actor with Playmakers before serving as artistic director, said she was drawn to the script because it contains all of the elements of Lewis’ story while allowing the audience to use its imagination. 
“It’s kind of like creating a good book,” she said. “You get to create the pictures in your own mind … I think we’re losing that in society since we’re so used to movies and spectacle, and that’s kind of sad.”
Playmakers of Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s only professional theater that brings live productions to young audiences.
“I feel like it serves a very useful purpose in our community — exposing youth to theater,” Kelstrom said. “Children who are exposed to the arts do better in every subject. Acting gives them a lot of confidence … Viewing it activates the imagination.”
Professional actors and University alumni J.P. Delahoussaye and Cristin Thomas will reprise their roles from the 2005 production.
Thomas plays Lucy and the White Witch in “The Wardrobe” and has been working for Playmakers for more than seven years.
“This is one of my very, very favorite shows,” she said. “It’s my third time, and each time I do it, I fall in love with it even more. It just keeps growing and getting more developed.”
Thomas said acknowledging the audience draws them into the story, and the well-written script sets it apart from other plays. 
“I did this show for the first time 10 years ago,” she said. “Back then, I took some of the lines for granted … Right now is the perfect time for me to do the show because I understand what it means to want to be a kid again.”
Public performances will be held at Manship Theatre on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
“It’s a good play, a really good story and it’s fun to watch,” Kelstrom said. “For anyone who enjoys the C.S. Lewis book series, it’s a different way to view it. It’s beautiful in its simplicity.”
Contact Elizabeth Clausen at [email protected]