‘The Magician’s Nephew’ opens Friday night at the Mansfield Playhouse

MANSFIELD — There is no Santa Claus. No elves. No George Bailey wishing for a wonderful life. No mistletoe can be found on the stage.

But make no mistake, “The Magician’s Nephew” is as full of love and hope as any Christmas-holiday show ever done at the Mansfield Playhouse.

Based on the writings of British author (and lay theologian) C.S. Lewis, the prequel to “The Chronicles of Narnia” opens Friday night for a five-performance run at the 95 E. Third St. community theater.

“There’s a wonderful mix of things in this particular story, because it truly is all about the hope and the love and the caring of young Diggory, who wants to take care of his ill mother,” said Doug Wertz, artistic director at the playhouse.

“It tells the story of how the evil Queen Jadis ends up in Narnia,” he said, a path that includes magical trips to mythical kingdoms and enchanted lands, all by virtue of magic rings (and deft set changes).

“I think audiences will be happy to see this type of fantasy show live and so well done,” Wertz said. “I am so happy with the way the cast is playing this show.

“There is not a lot of technical wizardry, but the story carries itself very well. I think (audiences) will enjoy this kind of family show, even if they are not fans of C.S. Lewis and his novels,” Wertz said.

The director’s claim that it’s a family show is borne out by the family members together on stage, including the father/daughter team of John and Stanzi Moser, the father/son duo of Luke and Noah Burton, the mother/son combination of Kristy and Ian Hergatt and the brother/sister pairing of Wesley and Caroline Stefaniuk.

It’s also a chance for Mansfield Christian student Abby Shewan to try out her acting chops as a villain for the first time as the aforementioned evil queen.

“It’s been a fun and new experience, exploring a side I don’t really have in real life,” the 18-year-old said with a laugh. “It’s been really fun to develop her character.”

Shewan is a theater veteran, whose acting efforts trace back to the first grade. She said she is impressed how well the cast works together.

“We have different age groups … we have older adults and we have super young children. The chemistry of the cast is just wonderful. We have worked really well together,” Shewan said.

Moser, a history professor at Ashland University, is another local theater veteran, filling the role of the eccentric Uncle Andrew. After performing in “A Christmas Story” at the playhouse in July, he wasn’t planning on such a quick return to the stage.

“I had no intention of it, really,” he said. “My daughter was auditioning and I thought it might be fun to do a show with her. It’s been delightful.”

Has he helped to coach Stanzi, a student at St. Edward School in Ashland who is making her community theater debut?

“I make suggestions and sometimes she listens,” Moser said with a smile.

Kristy Hergatt, a frequent behind-the-scenes contributor at the Playhouse, returns to the stage for the first time in five years as Aunt Letty.

“It’s been crazy,” she said. “I am also going to school full time and working full time, so it’s a little crazy. But it’s been fun.”

Aunt Letty is a bossy character on stage and Hergatt laughingly said she has been typecast in the role.

“It’s fun and funny, just a cute show,” she said.

The show also allows the Stefaniuks to perform together as Wesley, 9, makes his stage debut alongside Caroline, 10, who has been acting for five years. On stage they are best friends, a fact Caroline finds interesting.

“I don’t really feel like we are just friends, because we are siblings. But it’s fun to do the show with him because of how close we are,” Caroline said. “I thought was going to be a little hard for him, but he is nailing it really good.”

Wesley, who said he had worried about memorizing lines, said he has enjoyed rehearsals.

“It’s not really realistic, but there is magic in it and you get to be a different person,” he said.

Luke Burton, who portrays Aslan the lion, has watched his younger children perform in musical theater at the Playhouse over the years. He decided to become involved himself, joined by his son, Noah, in making his own Playhouse debut.

“It’s been great spending time with my son,” he said. “Life is so busy, so it’s nice to even just spend a 15-minute drive with him to and from the Playhouse several times a week. It’s just nice to have that time together.”

What: “The Magician’s Nephew”

Where: Mansfield Playhouse, 95 E. Third St.

When: 7 p.m. on Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11; 2:30 p.m. matinee on Dec. 12.

Cost: $13 for general admission, $12 for seniors, $8 for students.

More information: Visit mansfieldplayhouse.com or call 419-522-2883. The box office is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and one hour before shows.

The Cast

John Moser — Uncle Andrew

Kristy Hergatt — Aunt Letty

Wesley Stefaniuk — Diggory

Caroline Stefaniuk — Polly

Abby Shewan — Queen Jadis

Luke Burton — Aslan

Ian Hergatt — Monkey

Stanzi Moser — Bird

Noah Burton — Bear

Derrick Foster — Rabbit

Lucy Lang –Narnian

Lacey Gable — Narnian