Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland The Musical!

 
Ashby Lennard Review by Ashby Lennard 3 Published: 13 May 2009 Show Dates: 31 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1969

"Alice in Wonderland," by Lewis Carroll, has the potential to be turned into a musical for all the family. And yet there is a darkness to this tale – the madness, loneliness and violence present within its surreal narrative –that would make one think twice about bringing it to the eyes and ears of a young audience. But then, how many children have loved stage and screen conversions of Roald Dahl?"Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: The Musical" gets around this issue rather nicely. It focuses on the inventiveness of Carroll’s poetry, the dedication of a family to filming his work (projecting a 1903 homemade movie) and the vibrancy of bringing music and dance to such a concoction, (through "The Looking Glass Orchestra" and members of "K-Bis Theatre School"). The Sunday performance’s young members of the audience appeared to be interested in the musical, regardless of the vague and impressionistic construction. No performer’s talent, from The "Looking Glass Orchestra" to young Florence Langhorn (“Alice”), could be doubted and Yvo Luna’s “Mad Hatter” was particularly charismatic. The musical score, moreover, was accomplished and offered some memorable and likable tunes. For a Spring evening, "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: The Musical" came across as warm and undemanding. As we approach the middle of May however, it would be good to see something a little zestier. Busier boards with more adventurous set pieces would certainly wake things up, with the addition of some exciting stage lighting. The poetry, film and dance of the production, each taken as a theme, seem a little solitary, brought together somewhat by the overriding musical score. Yet confusingly, the piece tries to evince an overall feeling of happiness. This is the central problem of AAWTM, which despite this presents a lot of talent and creativity.

Related to this article:

Performances

The Blurb:

An exciting new musical, bringing together dramatizations of Lewis Carroll's poetry, dance, songs, characters from the book and 1903 film footage. Vibrant family show. Including Free Mad Hatter's tea party