Alice in Wonderland

Down the rabbit hole again! A strong cast takes up the challenge of turning a very well-known and monumentally imaginative book into an engaging hour-long show. Any adaption of Alice in Wonderland is up against the film versions with all the resources at their disposal. But this production is a winner.

Alice (Ewyon Turner), is curious and assertive and the segment when she shrinks is beautifully managed. The White Rabbit (Lucy Fox), has both a character and a puppet and brings the expected rushing anxiety. Jackson McGovern’s Caterpillar is witty and charming, and he also provides the voice (mainly a snore) of the Doormouse. The Cheshire Cat (Simon Burvell-Holmes) and its SMILE hover. The Mad Hatter (Catherine Glavicic) and the March Hare (Nicholas Jaquinot) join Doormouse for a properly chaotic tea party.  Tweedle Dum (Justine Anderson) and Tweedle Dee (Matilda Simmons) contribute beautifully balanced physical humour to their “rattle battle”. All the while the Queen of Hearts (Simon Burvell-Holmes) is hovering in the wings – and then, an entrance worthy of any pantomime queen! Chaos ensues and Alice wakes up!

The cast is supported by excellent puppets (designed and built by Chris Barlow and Dieter Barry) which add a needed element of fantasy. The costumes (Gayle MacGregor and Diani Eden) are splendid and very well realised. The music (Evan Jolly), and the sound and lighting design support the actors effectively.

The best way to judge the success of this production is the quantity of ongoing chuckles and chortles from the children in the audience. They gave it a five!

Ruth Richter