Albert Lea High School and Thespian Troupe 550 are presenting &uot;The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe&uot; by C.S. Lewis. The play opened Thursday in the Albert Lea High School auditorium and continues tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The play is the heroic tale of love, faith, courage and giving &045; the life-and-death struggle for control of Narnia and the grandeur of the triumph of good over evil.

&uot;C.S. Lewis is a famous Christian writer, and this story parallels the Christian story of the death and resurrection of Christ,&uot; said Director Sue Jorgensen. &uot;The kids are enjoying that aspect of it.&uot;

This first of the Narnia Chronicles is set in England in 1939. The children are sent to the country to keep them safe from the bombings taking place. In the big house in which they’re staying, Lucy hides in a wardrobe, only to find it has no back and she can walk straight through to Narnia, an enchanted land beyond the wardrobe.

The cast includes students from all four grades: Carl Samuelson as Aslan, the lion; Juliana Peterson as the White Witch; Rachel C. Nelson, John Mattson, Laura Dillavou and Stephen Thorn as the children; Gerrit Plantage and Cascey Nelson as Mr. and Mrs. Beaver; Candy Gulbrandson as the unicorn; Noah Langseth as the centaur; Matt Olsen as the faun (half man, half goat); Stuart Ness as Fenris Ulf; Tiffany Thompson as the dwarf; Anton Grove as Bumble Buffin; Steven Johnson as Father Christmas; Amber Edwards as the Elf; Melanie Balsley as the white doe; Megan Pence, Kurtis Bohrnstedt, Nick Garcia and Andrew Stoneking as the followers of Aslan; Amy Larson, Cassie Owens and Breann Sorenson as the witch’s army; and Priscilla Lamphier and Rachel Elvebak as wood nymphs.

Jorgensen said all ages should find the play enjoyable.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students. They are available at the door and at all Andersen Hallmark stores.