Alice In Wonderland

Alice In Wonderland
Adapted and Directed by Glenn Elston. Australian Shakespeare Company. Rippon Lea (Vic) Until January 24th 2014

Oh yes I did! Oh no you didn’t! Oh yes they did! Alice in Wonderland brings holiday pantomime to life in the glorious surrounds of Rippon Lea House and Gardens. In spite of Melbourne’s historic heat wave the show did go on. Somehow entering the gorgeous gardens of Rippon Lea did make you feel slightly cooler but on day three of 40+ degrees the difference was minimal. We followed the White Rabbits lining the path to be greeted by a somewhat heat exhausted crew member who, to his credit, managed a tiny bit of enthusiasm while directing us towards the setting under the trees where a tarp had been laid out to sit on. If you’re going to see Alice in Wonderland, what better way is there than this.

It really should be noted at the outset that this is a children’s production and the bevvy of young folk (mostly 3-5 years old) sat marveling at the painted set. This show was for them.

Eventually someone in the crowd cried out “look a white rabbit” and on strolled Sarah Spaven decked out in a magical white rabbit costume. She wasted no time in warming up the crowd (which was no mean feat given that the heat had sapped most of our energy) and had the children up and running towards a magical inflatable tunnel which they could run through to find themselves in Wonderland as Alice had done. In spite of the oppressive heat, Spaven was a true professional. She embodied the white rabbit as “he” explained that he’s always late, for what we all knew must be a “very important date”. Bill The Lizard, hilariously portrayed by Dennis Manahan came and dubbed everyone little caterpillars and finally Alice arrived.  My daughter’s first question to me was “why is Alice wearing a hat?”. I explained that it must be to keep the sun off, although I would have preferred an “Alice band” in her hair as well.  But the kids loved her. She was “ever so interesting” as she explained that she had grown big and small and cried and swam in her own tears. Sage Douglas was convincing but barely audible and this was probably the biggest problem with the show. Sage’s softly spoken Alice seemed at odds with the wonderful theatrical projection shown by all the other actors.

Lea Porcaro was hilarious as the Duchess and really a crowd favourite. For me, Ross Daniels’ caterpillar was the high point, perched on top of a giant mushroom, bubbles coming out of his pipe. Just marvelous. There were musical numbers that were simplistic in their construct, perfect for the children in the audience but not much chop for those of us over eight. Manahan’s return as the Mad Hatter and the gorgeous set up for the tea party (with Daniels now back as the March Hare and Spaven as the Door Mouse) piqued everyone’s interest and hunger and a sing-a-long and more audience participation ensued.

It was then time for us all to head to the Queens croquet match. The adults in the crowd (well most of them) were lead away to become a deck of cards whilst the children became little hedgehogs, required to roll across the lawn from one side to another and then crawling back through the legs of the deck of cards. The Queen (Kali Hulme) and King (Nelson Gardner) of Hearts were giants on their stilts and the little ones in attendance were in awe.

I grew up on pantomime and I am so happy that it still persists to this day. I loved shouting “behind you” and “oh yes you did”; it took me back decades and still makes me giggle. There really aren’t enough opportunities to take your young children to see theatre anymore, and this is after all where their love of the stage will begin. The Australian Shakespeare Company should be applauded for bringing this kind of joy to children and there really should be much more of it. Take your children to see this production, you may just find they aren’t the only ones enchanted.

Liza Bermingham

Photographer: Tony Rive.

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