The hallways of Manhasset had been positively roaring with anticipation — and on the 6th and 7th of February, that energy finally spilled onto the stage as the Theatre Department presented its enchanting production of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The result was a spellbinding journey that left the audience’s hearts thawing with every scene.

Adapted from C.S. Lewis’s beloved masterpiece, the play brings the audience through the back of a dusty wardrobe into a land of talking beasts and mythical wonders. The Pevensie siblings — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — navigate a world trapped in an eternal winter by the White Witch, eventually finding hope in the return of the great lion, Aslan. The middle school cast handled these iconic roles with impressive maturity, ensuring the high-stakes drama of the Narnian prophecy was never frozen in place.

“I love watching so many people do theater for the first time and discover something they really love, and discover a lot about themselves,” said Director Victoria DiCarlo. “A big highlight for me was how the high school came in to help the middle school … acting in a sort of a training role, which was awesome. One big standout was senior Zoe Eng who created our giant Lion puppet from scratch, and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve seen on the Manhasset stage! “

Manhasset Middle School’s rendition of this timeless classic was more than just a school play; it was a testament to the creativity and dedication of its students. As the curtain fell on Narnia, it was clear that the cast and crew had truly captured hearts from both the audience with their performance. With such passion and teamwork on display, this town can indefinitely look forward to many more years of legendary theatrical excellence on the Manhasset stage.