Barbara Lawlor, Gilpin County.  If you’re a kid you know the story, if you have kids you know the story. If you have never read the story or seen the movie, now is your chance to become acquainted with the Land of Narnia and the special beings that inhabit the fantasy land of C.S. Lewis’s epic series.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia to be published, but was the second of the chronological series. When the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was made into a movie in 2005, it earned $745 million.

Many of the Gilpin School students have grown up with Narnia stories and are familiar with the characters and the extraordinary plot of the fantasy series, but only a handful of students have been chosen to play the main characters, the four Pevensie children Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, who discover a different world in which the good lion fights the evil forces of Jadis, the White Witch.

One night, Edmund follows Lucy into the wardrobe and finds himself in Narnia as well, and after searching for Lucy he meets the White Witch, who claims to be Queen of Narnia. She offers him Turkish Delight as well as the prospect of becoming king and having power over his siblings if he brings them to her castle. After she departs, Edmund and Lucy meet again and return to the real world; Lucy tells Peter and Susan what happened, but unfortunately, Edmund lies. Professor Kirke talks with Peter and Susan and suggests she is telling the truth, although they are unconvinced.

While running away from Mrs. Macready after accidentally breaking a window, the four siblings retreat to the wardrobe and enter Narnia. They discover Mr. Tumnus has been taken by the Witch, and meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who tell them about Aslan. According to the beavers, Aslan intends to take control of Narnia from the Witch. The four must help Aslan; it has been prophesized that if two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve sit in the four thrones, the White Witch’s reign will end.

Edmund sneaks off to visit the Witch. When he arrives at her castle, she is angry that he did not deliver his siblings. The Witch sends wolves to hunt down the children and the beavers, who barely escape. Edmund is chained in the Witch’s dungeon, where he meets Tumnus. The Witch demands that Edmund reveal where his siblings are. After Tumnus claims that Edmund does not know anything the Witch tells Mr. Tumnus that Edmund betrayed him, then turns Tumnus to stone.

Peter, Lucy, Susan, and the beavers are forced to travel, to hide from what they believe to be the White Witch. It is really Father Christmas, a sign that the Witch’s reign is ending. Father Christmas gives Lucy a healing cordial, a drop of which will bring anyone injured back to life, and a dagger to defend herself. Susan receives a bow and arrows and a magical horn that will summon help when blown, and Peter a sword and shield.

After evading wolves led by Maugrim, the group reaches Aslan’s camp. Aslan is revealed as a huge and noble lion who started Narnia and promises to help Edmund. Later, two wolves ambush Lucy and Susan. When Peter intervenes, Maugrim attacks him, and Peter kills him. Some of Aslan’s troops follow the other wolf to the witch’s camp and rescue Edmund. Peter is knighted by Aslan.

The White Witch journeys to Aslan’s camp and claims Edmund, but Aslan secretly offers to sacrifice himself instead. That night, as Lucy and Susan covertly watch, Aslan is killed by the White Witch. In the morning he is resurrected because “there is a magic deeper still the Witch does not know”. Aslan takes Susan and Lucy to the Witch’s castle, where he frees the prisoners that the White Witch turned to stone.

Edmund persuades Peter to lead Aslan’s army to fight the White Witch’s forces. To stop the Witch from attacking and killing Peter, Edmund attacks the White Witch and destroys her wand, but is gravely wounded by her. As the Witch fights Peter, Aslan arrives with reinforcements and kills her. After Edmund is revived by Lucy’s cordial, the Pevensies become Kings and Queens.

Do the children remain in Narnia? That is to be seen in the Gilpin School production. And if they go back to the real world, will they leave Narnia forever? The answers to these questions will be found at the GHS production that will be performed after school starts again.

By then, the lines will be smooth, the choreography gripping, as the actors use real swords and knives, very dull, for the fight scenes.  Logan Prewitt plays Edmund, the younger brother who is 10 years old. Logan says that his favorite part in the show is when he gets to eat the “Turkish Delight,” which is really Jello and which he really eats.  With whipped cream on top. Logan has been involved in all of the recent spring plays including: Matilda, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

Eighth grade Claire Diekman plays Susan the older sister and says she has had speaking roles before but never this big. She says it was hard at first to learn all her lines, but it became easier and easier.her favorite part of the show is the fight scene.

“I know learning these moves is good experience for me.” Archer O’Brien plays Lucy the youngest of the Pevensie children. Archer says her favorite moment was when Father Christmas gives her a dagger. She says she hasn’t been in a Gilpin School show before, but she plays regularly in Boulder shows and even played in Willy Wonka and Annie at the same time.

Aslan is represented by a huge, life-sized lion puppet which is being built especially for the show.

Director Kate Schlosser introduces two new characters into the cast which are sure to steal the show. The two girls play wood nymphs, not found in the original story, who do the entire show on stilts and appear to be quite comfortable 16 inches higher than usual.

Schlosser says, “ I added them just for fun, to add a different element to the show and they are doing fantastic.”

The Gilpin production of “The Witch, the Lion and the Wardrobe” may not bring in $745 million, but it is sure to attract huge audiences from the Gilpin and Nederland communities, so plan to be there early for a good seat.