By Hannah Curran, Editor
LEEDS — The Leeds Arts Council presented Shadowlands, the unlikely, true love story of C. S. Lewis and Joy Davidman.
Clay Boyce directs Shadowlands, and this is his second time producing the show. However, Boyce explained that this show was a different Shadowlands than the first performance. Boyce wanted the audience to experience the show in a whole new light.
Boyce explained that the final show is closure, to see the show grow from the pages to the stage in a similar way to the cycle of life.
“It’s kind of like the story that they tell during the show,” Boyce said. “Life is a cycle. So it’s just another show cycle for me.”
Related Story: Behind-the-scenes look of Leeds Arts Council’s ‘Shadowlands’
Shadowlands, set in the 1950s, captivated the audience as you followed bachelor C. S. Lewis, the renowned author of “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, find love in an unexpected turn of events.
Lewis, a bachelor and Oxford University professor, spends his free time debating with fellow academics, and while he never seemed interested in love, everything changed once he met Joy.
Michael R. Bridges, who starred C. S. Lewis, took the audience on a journey of joy and sadness as he navigates through his own relationships spiritually and emotionally. His emotions held the audience on the edge of their seat, laughing or drying tears during the entire production.
Lewis agrees to marry Joy, an American writer who is looking to gain British citizenship, not because of love, but out of convenience for her and her son, Douglas. However, once Joy, played by Holly Ford, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Lewis begins to realize that he did not begin living life until he met Joy.
“I’m hoping that people see there’s joy in everything we go through in life and even the pain,” Boyce said. “It’s joy. Yeah, it means a lot because he wrote about her name, and the fact that it’s true, we do have to find joy even in the pain.”
The humor in the show is what stands out the most because if there’s humor to be found in everyday life, then it helps in the saddest of moments.
Lewis and his brother Major W.H. Lewis (Warnie) presented the show with many laughable moments, from Warnie preparing Lewis’ tea to how they follow the same routine in the morning never deviating.
Jon McClaran, who starred Warnie, enthralled the audience with his witty responses to his younger brother, but also his never-ending support and love for Lewis. McClaran found things in the other actors on stage to pull from to help push the storyline along and bring joy to the audience in the midst of despair.
Boyce hoped that people understood the importance to cherish the little things.
“Life is short, and we hope to leave behind memories of ourselves and those shadows are how we keep existing,” Boyce said. “It can be an emotional roller coaster, but I’m glad to share it with folks. It’s a ride. I think pain is a ride we share with those close to us and they’re the ones that get us over and through the pain and say, ‘Hey, there’s joy here.'”
Cast List:
- C.S. Lewis – Michael R. Bridges
- Joy Gresham – Holly Ford
- Major Warnie Lewis – Jon McClaran
- Christopher Riley – Matthew McCarron
- Harry Harrington – Kenneth Hurst
- Douglas (2nd weekend) – Eli Duckworth
- Douglas (1st weekend) – Jax Rutledge
- Alan Gregg/Doctor – Carter Sanderson
- Woman/Registrar/Nurse – Brandi McClaran
- Priest/Waiter/Dr. Oakley/Clerk – Brian Allison
- Stage Manager – Shannon Jordan