Tattle: Caspian sees 'Narnia' wardrobe in Institute exhibit

IN CASE YOU'RE ever forced to give a weird childhood fact about Tattle, you can tell your captors we once played Edmund in the Riverdale YMHA production of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe."

The Christian allegorical stuff was probably lost on our little cast of pre-teen Jews.

That's about it for our association with C.S. Lewis's world of Narnia, except that we did enjoy the first two "Chronicles of Narnia" movies (the second one, "Prince Caspian," came out yesterday on DVD with tons of cool extras.)

The world of Narnia has also moved in to the Franklin Institute (sorry, name changers, Tattle isn't calling it "The Franklin" - that sounds like a hotel) for an exhibition running through April 19.

With costumes, props and set dressings from the films, fans can enter a three-dimensional Narnia combining fantasy with the Institute's real mission - science.

On hand to tour the exhibit two weeks ago was Prince Caspian himself, British actor Ben Barnes.

"It's kind of odd to see your costumes in a museum a year after you've worn them," Barnes said, "but it feels important."

Barnes hopes to start shooting the next "Narnia" this spring with veteran Michael Apted ("Coal Miner's Daughter") directing.

"He's done nothing on this scale," Barnes said, "he's excited to do it. He's also a little scared of it, and that's great."

In Barnes' view, the reason that "Caspian" didn't do the box office of its predecessor was timing.

"The first one was a fairy tale released at Christmas with no competition," he said. In the U.S., " 'Prince Caspian' was sandwiched between 'Iron Man,' 'Sex and the City' and 'Indiana Jones' - and 13-year-olds want to see what their 15-year-old brothers want to see.

"It was smart for the DVD to come out at Christmas."

Up next for Barnes is "Easy Virtue," a hit at the Toronto Film Festival, which will open here next year. He also recently wrapped shooting on "Dorian Gray."

In "Easy Virtue," based on the work by Noel Coward, Barnes plays the easygoing British boyfriend to an American whirlwind, played by Jessica Biel.

Their romance does not go especially well when he takes her home to meet the family.

We asked Barnes how he could let Biel get away from him?

"If I'd written the script it would have been a very different story," he said.

Tattbits

* It was a bittersweet moment for Brad Pitt, walking through the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood where families were preparing to spend their first holidays since Hurricane Katrina.

Those families are moving into the first six houses built through Pitt's Make It Right foundation. One home was already strewn with green garland, lights, wreaths and red bows.

Still, Pitt is restless.

"I'm really happy for the families that are going to be here, but I can't help but think about the families that aren't," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" star said. "It's a push-pull for me. The excitement is that it's being proven, that it's working. The frustration is that we have a long way to go."

* Although British tabloid reports have Patrick Swayze near death, he issued a statement yesterday affirming that so far he is winning his fight against pancreatic cancer and responding well to treatment.

Says Swayze: "They're reporting that I'm on my last legs and saying goodbye to my tearful family! . . . It's upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I'm fighting."

Swayze, who stars in the upcoming A&E series "The Beast" and will be interviewed by Barbara Walters on "20/20" (airing Jan. 9), says that such coverage is tantamount to "emotional cruelty," and angers him "when hope is so precious."

* Speaking of hope, Houston mega-church ministers Joel and Victoria Osteen will be bringing some Good News to the Wachovia Center Friday night at 7:30.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets for "Night of Hope," with the Osteens and musical guests, are $15 and available at the Wachovia Center or through Ticketmaster.

Joel and Victoria (whose just-released book is "Love Your Life") will also be signing books Friday at noon at the Barnes & Noble at 18th & Walnut streets.

* "Rachel Getting Married," "Frozen River" and "Ballast" lead the nominees for the Spirit Awards with six nominations each, including best picture.

Other best-picture nominees announced yesterday: Michelle Williams' down-on-her-luck drama, "Wendy and Lucy," and Mickey Rourke's broken-down athlete tale "The Wrestler."

Anne Hathaway ("Rachel") and Williams have lead-actress nominations, along with Melissa Leo for "Frozen River," Summer Bishil for "Towelhead" and Tarra Riggs for "Ballast."

Rourke has a best-actor nomination, along with Javier Bardem for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," Sean Penn for "Milk" and Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker."

The awards honor independent film.

Tattle contest

Tattle has 10 pairs of tickets to "Yesterday," the critically-acclaimed Beatles tribute show now being performed at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.

To enter (only one per person, please), send an e-mail to dinnercontest@phillynews.com with your name and phone number. In the subject line, write: I Love the Beatles.

In the e-mail tell us your favorite Beatles song and write one sentence about why you still love the Fab Four after 40-plus years.

Today at 5 p.m. we'll start picking winners. After we confirm your existence, you will be contacted about when you would like to see the show.

To win, all you need is love. And luck. *

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Send e-mail to gensleh@phillynews.com