More than 1,000 people of all ages visited C.S. Lewis' magical land of Narnia on Saturday as the Arizona Science Center opened the doors to the magical wardrobe of "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Exhibition."

The 10,000-square-foot exhibit features over $2 million worth of props from the hit movies The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, as well as hands-on displays about weather, medieval life and movie magic.

It even includes a working catapult.

"The catapult was my favorite," 8-year-old Tony Rossi of Peoria said as he was leaving the show.

The Arizona Science Center hosts the worldwide debut of the traveling exhibit, which will be in Phoenix through Oct. 26.

"We're privileged to host the premiere," said Science Center President and CEO Chevy Humphrey. "We've been working for two years to bring this exhibit to the Valley."

Initially, Humphrey was wary about the level of scientific content in the exhibit. But she says her fears were quickly allayed.

"In the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe there was a 100-year-long winter in Narnia," she said. "The exhibit relates that to the effects of global climate change and the environmental concerns of today."

Douglas Gresham, Lewis' stepson, who produced the two movies as well as the exhibit, was on hand for the premiere. He said the inclusion of science in the show shouldn't be surprising.

"One of the main themes of the Narnia books is stewardship of the land," he said. "Environmentalism is built into the Chronicles. And what is the difference between magic and science? When we understand something, it is science. When we don't, it is magic."

Karen Whigtil of Tucson, who was visiting the museum with her daughter Nicole, appreciated the way the science was integrated into the exhibit.

"They really tied the movies into modern problems like deforestation," she said. "It's educational as well as entertaining."

Her daughter was just amazed to see it come to life.

"This was so much more than I expected," the 10-year-old said.

Nicole's sentiment was expressed by many of the visitors at the exhibit, including Kristen Galek, 17, of Chandler.

"I figured it would just be a few movie props, but when you walked through the doors of the wardrobe and entered the exhibit, it was like you were really in Narnia," she said.

That was Gresham's goal.

"I grew up in Narnia," he said. "I've always expected to see fauns and centaurs since I was a child. Now I've seen my lifelong dream come true."


Author: Michael Senft
Source: The Arizona Republic