Customer Reviews

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Radio Theatre)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! I just listened to a copy of the radio theater version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and was VERY impressed with the quality of the production. It's very different from just a "book on tape." It takes your imagination away with it. I felt as though I was there crunching through the snow in the wood on the other side of the wardrobe and there through the tea in the beaver's house, etc., etc. I was listening in my car and sat in the driveway for 15 minutes to hear the end of the first tape!

I wanted to hear the production before I sent it to my neices for Christmas. I've read the books several times and was concerned with whether or not the radio theatre would accurately represent the books. I was not disappointed. I got them for my neices and <smile> will most likely end up purchasing copies for myself of the whole series once they are available.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this radio theater series to lovers of Lewis's books and especially to parents(even if they don't know Lewis's writings all that well). It's an adventure! Oh, it also would be great on long car trips for both children and adults.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a fantastic book! It is one of the only books I have ever read that when I went to bed I could not wait to get up in the morning so I could finish it. The book is about four children, two sisters and two brothers. The youngest sister, Lucy finds a wardrobe in the attic of the house that they are visiting. Inside she finds a... Sorry you will have to read it yourself. In my opinion this book is the best fantasy book ever written. Reading this book inspires me to read the rest of the Narnia series. In some ways this book made me appretiate how hard an author works to make the reader happy. This book not only improved my reading skills but it also had a huge affect on me. It really made me think. I highly recommend this book because I think anyone would like it no matter how old you are. If you don't read it, you are missing out on a great book.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has been eloquently transferred into a wonderful two-hour radio program complete with individual character voices and background effects and music. This version is not to be missed by those who wish to hear the book in addition to reading it. Few parts are cut from the BBC version and is more enjoyable (and complete) than the animated BBC version on videotape. The cast is astounding and read with just the right amount of characterization so that you are drawn into the story. Take note that this should not be a replacement for reading the book, but is a great reminder to those who have read and loved the Chronicles of Narnia. The BBC has done a wonderful job transferring this terrific book which to this day remains one of my all-time favorites.

The BBC presentation of this C.S. Lewis classic gripped our entire family (parents and boys aged 5 and 8) as we headed to the mountains to ski. Although we were already familiar with the story line, we could not get back to the car quickly enough at day's end to hear the conclusion! This is not just another story tape with a voice reading text. The book is acted out by excellent and engaging actors. Captivating. Our family cannot wait to see what other books BBC has "presented."

I dreaded reading this book for the first time in tenth grade, as I disliked fantasy. Much to my surprise, I could not put the book down. With tears and fascination, I was drawn into a story that pierced my heart. The genius of C.S. Lewis masterfully wove a tale that I, at first thought was simply a fantasy story of some children and talking animals. However, as I devoured the book (and the subsequent books in the series), I realized that this was no ordinary story. Though in clever allegory, this is the story of our world's past, present and future. The true meaning is for you to hopefully, discover for yourself, so I shall say no more!

The audio drama version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is nothing short of brilliant, and worthy of the classic book it is adapted from. Lovingly produced by Focus on the Family Radio Theater, it features an exceptional cast of voice actors, spot-on writing, amazing sound effects, a beautiful original music score, and production quality that simply sets the standard for audio drama.

Pretty much everything is done right. The script is extremely faithful to the book, nothing watered down, nothing altered, often down to narrating C.S. Lewis's rich descriptions word-for-word. The pacing is perfect, never dragging, but long enough to savor the story's sweetness. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe fills two CDs to capacity; some of the later books fill three.) The voice actors were picked from some of the top British talent, and even the children give incredible performances. And of course, Lewis's Christian faith, so central to the Narnia stories, is ever-present, never insulting the listener's intelligence with in-your-face self-interpretation, but flowing richly through the story itself as in the books.

Though usually classified as children's stories, the Chronicles of Narnia do contain some scary scenes, which are done vividly and without apology in this audio drama. Indeed, the far-fetched cheesiness often associated with modern children's cinema is largely absent here, replaced with a simple sensitivity and honesty reminiscent of the classic Disney films, making it enjoyable, on its own merits, to any age group.

The only down side to these dramas is that they will spoil you. I've recently bought and listened to several other audio dramatizations, including the Left Behind series, and though many are fine productions, I've never been able to truly enjoy them, simply because they've paled in comparison to the perfection that is Focus on the Family's adaptation of the Narnia series. And although I love film, I've now lost interest in any Narnia film project, for no film could possibly bring Narnia to life the way that these pictureless dramas have.

I bought The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe out of curiosity while browsing in a bookstore a few years ago, and it hooked me instantly. Since then, I've bought each new drama as it's come out (as of this writing, The Silver Chair, the sixth out of seven, has just been released), and each title has lived up to and even surpassed the sky-high standards set by the first. Ecstatically recommended, without reservation.

The Focus on the Family presentation combines a great script (arguably even better than the BBC version) with good acting and absolutely brilliant sound effects. It also emphasizes the joy and wonder of the book. Not only can you sense Lucy's awe of Narnia as she visits it for the first time, but the joy of the place before the Witch took control, and after Aslan returns, is accentuated better than in any of the dramatizations (audio or video) of the work from the other studios.

Tumnus' description of the feasting and bliss of Narnia before the White Witch imprisoned it in perpetual winter is superb. And he is not afraid to mention Bacchus and Silenus - characters which the other presentations avoid. There is also an obvious joy in Aslan's camp at the Stone Table when the three children are brought there.

The creators of the Walden/Disney movie missed the joy and wonder by interjecting the thought that the Pevencies would have needed to be convinced to stay. In the book, Lewis assumes the children would be caught up in the magic and excitement of Narnia, their predilection for adventure having already been established. (They are excited about exploring outdoors, and resort to exploring the house when it rains.)

In the movie, the adventures they get caught in often seem more inspired by a video game (i.e. riding ice in the river) than any "magic" based on what Lewis wrote. The spirit captured by the FotF production is much to be preferred to any action/adventure presented on the big screen.

The climax of this Radio Theater episode is the sacrifice of Aslan on the Stone Table and his subsequent resurrection. The use of Lewis's narrative, enhanced with sound effects and dramatic music, is "spot on" in capturing the significance of the scene.

In his excellent review of this dramatization, Greg Wright of Hollywood Jesus concludes that the prolonged death scene is not exactly "family friendly." However, following FotF's guidelines ("Not Recommended for children Under the Age of 8' parents should not have to worry.

Another inventive touch comes at the end of the movie when the children re-immerge from the wardrobe back in England - but that should be saved as a surprise for the first-time listener.

This telling of C.S. Lewis' beloved TLTWTW is very well done. The ultimate is to get your hands on the full set. It offers a great way to further enjoy this well crafted story for young and seasoned. Other works of Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre are also highly recommended. Happy listening.

I have The Chronicles of Narnia on CD, in unabridged audiobook form, and our three children have enjoyed listening to them while we drive. When I found the Focus on the Family Radio Theater versions on CD, I bought them immediately. At their ages, they enjoy the dramatized versions.

The production is very professional, and of the highest quality. The set is a permanent fixture in our van, and while they often ask to listen to one of the stories, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is by far the most requested. Even my three-year-old knows the basic storyline and can pick out various characters based on their voices.

I'll be looking for other Radio Theater programs based on the high quality of these programs.

This was an awesome audio production of the second book in the
C.S. Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia" series. I was drawn spell bound into the story and was deeply impacted emotionally everytime Aslan, being a type of Christ, appeared in the story. It was powerful and I immediatley ordered the entire audio series to enjoy and share with others.