Alice in Wonderland

Birds tweety tweet as an enchanting set and hues of blue greet the audience on entering the theatre, eliciting gasps of delight from all ages. The Sydney Coliseum Theatre is ready to welcome Wonderlandians of all ages down that famous rabbit hole.

The Theatre comes alive with whimsy and wonders as Penny Farrow’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland takes the stage for the timeless tale, reimagined with a fresh perspective, captivating with its vibrant colours, imaginative set design, and wonderful wonderlandian performances. Farrow has drawn from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, The Hunting of the Snark and Rhyme? And Reason? (a collection of Carroll’s poems) incorporated much of the language and characters. 

Here, the impossible becomes possible, and the improbable quite probable. The sets, adorned with mushrooms, enchanting forests, teapots and cups, and mysterious doorways, provided a visually captivating backdrop for Alice's mesmerising journey. 

The cast's performances were nothing short of the delightfulist of delightful, breathing life into the beloved characters that have enchanted readers for generations. 

Alice (Eowyn Turner), portrayed with a perfect balance of naivety and determination, led us through a world that defied logic. The Mad Hatter's (Catherine Glavicic) eccentric tea party is everything we wanted it to be: silly, riddlish, fun and whimsy. The glorious Caterpillar (Anthony Craig) and Cheshire Cat (Simon Burvell-Holmes ), who didn’t get much stage time, were a crowd favourite, particularly Cheshire with his illuminated grin. A stand-out was Tweedle Dee (Matilda Simmons) and Tweedle Dum's (Justine Anderson ) physical comedy and, of course, the “Queen” of Hearts (Simon Burvell-Holmes ), complete with her flamingo and hedgehog croquet and her card soldiers with Lucy Fox as the White Rabbit, Elliot Baker as March Hair this cast felt like they had stepped right out of the storybook! 

The stagecraft of the ensemble was a highlight as they chopped and changed characters to suit each scene flawlessly, even weaving in puppetry, breathing life into 20 characters in unique ways. 

The production also succeeded in weaving puns for the older ones and pop culture references that all ages found joy in - while the story's deeper themes, such as the exploration of identity, the passage from childhood to maturity, and the allure of the fantastical, were lightly touched upon, giving some depth that both children and adults could appreciate.

The attention to detail in the costuming was remarkable. All characters were intricately adorned with stunning costumes that reflected their character and were immediately identifiable, with keen audience members delighted as they recognised their favourites. Anticipation was well worth the wait — also a hats off to the wardrobe and backstage crew helping actors in and out of all the costumes. 

The creative team's commitment to staying true to Lewis Carroll's whimsical spirit while injecting fresh creativity into the production was evident in each scene, making this adaptation of Alice in Wonderland an enchanting experience for all who attended. The 60-minute duration keeps it short and sharp so little minds stay focused as the famous rabbit says: Don’t be late for this important date. 

Alice in Wonderland is a must-see, enchanting escape into a world of fantasy and imagination—a well-executed five-hearts worth taking the family along this school holiday. 

Nicole Smith

Photographer: Robert Catto