The Lion, the Witch, And the Wardrobe

The Chronicles of Narnia - Focus on the Family Radio Theatre Audio Dramas

by Paul McCusker (Adapted by), C.S. Lewis

These classic stories have enchanted millions around the world. Radio Theatre brings them to life in this dramatized audio production. Recorded in London with an all-star cast of England's brightest talent from the stage and screen, an original orchestral score, and cinema-quality digital sound design, this innovative recording provides hours of entertainment for the entire family. All seven stories are available in a single, redesigned slipcase or available individually, and both formats are marked at their lowest prices ever!

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Classics, Audiobook, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Christian

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Paul McCusker is a writer of many different kinds of things. You may know him from Adventures In Odyssey and Focus On The Family Radio Theatre. Or the Father Gilbert Mysteries. Or the Augustine Institute audio dramas Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi and The Trials of Saint Patrick. Or plays like The First Church of Pete's Garage and Catacombs. Or C.S. Lewis projects like The Chronicles of Narnia audio dramas or The Annotated Screwtape Letters. Or the film Beyond The Mask. Or lots of other dramas, novels, scripts and lyrics. He simply can't make up his mind what he likes to write.

Reviews

[Moraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful adaptation of a story that is closely tied to my childhood. I enjoyed it a lot more then than I did this time but have adjusted my ratings anyway.

Other reviews
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[Allison Tebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning.

Focus on the Family's Radio Theater productions are nothing-less than a treat - an enchanted box of Turkish Delight, but full of only lingering goodness and the sweet spell of a magical journey.

These audio dramas were present through so much of my childhood. To this day, I adore them and have the synapses memorized!

The raw ingredients (the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia) is good enough - but pile on the cherries of a stupendous radio adventure and you have something truly magical.

Recommend to everyone who wishes to be swept away.

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

85/100 (= 5.0/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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Revisiting Narnia. This time as a family. Returning to these beloved Focus on the Family audio productions from my childhood. Though top top quality (one of the finest audio productions I know of), I'm finally at the point of recognizing the abridgement and missing the extra details. This time around, I'll do a parallel listen of the unabridged audio books for comparison.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful abridged radio theatre production.

[Colby Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Banger

[Patricia Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect road trip listening! David Suchet as the voice of Aslan is wonderful—all the voice acting is excellent. Like listening to a movie! Can’t beat the story, of course. A timeless, classic tale full of remarkable themes of redemption, forgiveness, love, and friendship. Beautiful parallels to the Christ story: He has overcome the darkness, He is the light, He was there at the beginning, He created the world, He knows the deeper magic. Always worth a re-listen/re-read!

[Jonathan Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always lovely to journey through Narnia with the help of this beautifully voiced cast. I cannot even remember at this point how many times I've listened through these! Such joy!

[Leah Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on these stories and, after a long time away from them, I'm thoroughly enjoying re-listening to them. I'll admit I've never actually read these books. For some reason I have a hard time reading them. But I absolutely adore the Radio Dramas. Having watched the movie quite a few times between now and the last time they read them, I was surprised at the details I'd forgotten and delighted to rediscover them. A timeless story.

[Elizabeth Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

While technically not a read aloud of the book, these Radio Theatre (by Focus on the Family) dramatizations of the Chronicles of Narnia are SO GOOD! We listened to this one in the car with the family and both my 4-year-old and 3-year-old were very engaged. Obviously this story is five stars, but this radio drama is also 5 stars! All the voices and sound effects really add to the listening experience. Often we would have to sit in the driveway to get to a good stopping point because the girls were not ready to stop listening and I'd also have to pause so my daughter could ask why Lucy & Susan were sad or why the White Witch was mean. It was fun to see how they were soaking it all up & engaging with the story. My husband and I too were very invested which makes it a great family friendly listen for road trips or just driving around town!

CONCULSION: Five stars, recommended full heartedly!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely adaptation. It's well acted and cut into a reasonable program length.

I find it hard to blame Edmund too much. He's only a young boy who makes mostly reasonable mistakes as he's trying to make sense of a fantasy realm. His head gets turned quite a bit by the witch, but she does as much to older and wiser men.

[Alyssa Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At my age (late twenties), reading fairy tales was never a boring and dull as for some adults, instead, it makes my head swims in imagination of flamboyance and exuberance. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is definitely always on my reading list as time may have graciously make me read again on my old age.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to these in middle/high school and was pumped to get to listen to them with my own kids.

Radio theater is a fun and engaging when done correctly,as it is with these. Sound effects and different voice actors and actresses still allow the magic to come to life with your own mental pictures. Excited to keep listing with the kids.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the “radio theatre” dramatised audio version on a holiday road trip. Although I’m generally skeptical of any attempt at literary abridgement, this version grew on me as we drove along, and my youngest daughters (yet to read the books) loved it. 3 stars for this version.

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite. I was over the moon when I found these audiobooks again as an adult. I’d been looking for them for years.

Disclaimer: focus on the family is a hate group.

Also there is period typical sexism.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess this wasn’t quite “reading”, but an audio theater production with some lines read straight from the book by the narrator. My kids loved it though!

[C.G.Koens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book ALWAYS has 5 stars, but I loved this Radio Theater version! So well done! Highly recommended.

[Juanito]

Hi

[Rachel Crum]

We love this radio theatre production of all the narnia stories!

[Regi Zuniga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó pero no le daría las 5 estrellas ya que me uniera gustado más acción en la trama

[Brayden Anderson]

Y

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun road trip listen for our 6 hour car ride. Did such a great job with the added sound effects and the actors did a great job bringing the story to life.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely for younger readers, but is a must read for those getting into fantasy

[Andre Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read classic. By now the story is all but well known. To read it though is very entertaining. Lewis really talks to the reader. To be a child again

[Daniel Gaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The classic C.S. Lewis story, presented in magnificent fashion!

[Richard Oh]

Hi

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m almost sure that many of you love C. S. Lewis’ fantasy book series The Chronicles of Narnia, so I wanted to surprise you with my review for the second book: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I don’t own a copy of the book, but I found an audiobook on YouTube, which came in handy for me, because I wasn’t sure if I should buy it or not. I haven’t read the rest of the books, but you can write in the comment section why you love this series or which book is your favourite.

As you already know, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fairytale, a fantasy book which revolves around the lives of four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie) who are sent to the countryside to escape the Blitz. While they explore the old house of Professor Digory Kirke, the children find an empty room where the only item of furniture is a wardrobe, which is actually a secret passage to the enchanted land named Narnia. It’s always winter there, but Christmas never comes. Gradually, each of the four siblings enters into this fairy-like world, where they encounter Tumnus the faun, Jadis the White Witch or the self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia, Mr and Mrs Beaver, Aslan the Lion or the true King of Narnia, and other magical and mythical creatures.

The kids initially go on a mission to save Tumnus from the witch’s castle, but when some old prophecies need to be fulfilled and spells to be broken, the siblings undergo adventures they have never dreamt of. I also want to add that there are very obvious religious symbols in this fantasy novel, but I won’t get into that. If you are interested in this topic, please check out Raluca’s article posted in two parts about J. R. R. Tolkien’s literary masterpiece Lord of the Rings.

Though I loved the movie and watched it a few times before actually reading the novel, I also enjoyed most of the book for the depiction of Narnia, its characters, but also for the beautiful writing and plotline. Until next time!

http://elitere.ro/the-lion-the-witch-...

[Miss Bookiverse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this radio adaption. It's very well done (even though Aslan still sounds like a conceited circus lion) but there are 2 parts in the story that just rub me the wrong way:

1. When Aslan sacrifices himself to spare Edmund, Susan and Lucy accompany him and watch how the "evil animals" assault him. The scene itself is horrid and was very uncomfortable to listen to, but why don't the girls act? I know Aslan "didn't give them permission" (I hate how he has that kind of power over them anyway), but still. They love Aslan why wouldn't they run for help or just blindly run into the massacre trying to save him themselves?

2. Of course nothing happens to Aslan. After he comes back to life he explains to the girls what happened and it seems as if he was pretty certain nothing would happen to him. Couldn't he have warned the girls? Or at least hinted at it? They were devastated!

[James McIntosh Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I can't remember exactly how many times I listened to Focus On the Family Radio Theatre versions of "The Chronicles of Narnia" stories while I was growing up, I do remember my whole family greatly enjoyed them every time. Each book is adapted into a marvelous, beautiful experience containing great narration, voice acting, and sound effects. The introductions by Lewis' stepson are also pretty cool. I need to listen to them again...

(Note: I don't agree with how they numbered their versions stories, but maybe that's just me... and my dad, who actually reordered them in our collection and wrote over the numbering. The Magician's Nephew and The Horse and His Boy do take place chronologically before other stories, but in the reading order they were not meant to be numbers 1 and 3.)

[Sasha M kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Radio drama- I did not like the actor of Aslan or the girls- they were too whiney.
The Christ imagery was very apparent. So was the sexism . Still a good fantasy story for all ages.