Written by Alina Mae Wilson

With an enthusiastic cast, fun and engaging songs, and dazzling costumes, this production delivered a delightful experience that celebrated the joy and creativity of youth theater.

Story:

The play follows Alice as she embarks on a whimsical adventure through Wonderland, meeting unforgettable characters like the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire Cat. Along her journey, Alice navigates the chaos and charm of Wonderland, learning lessons about self-discovery and bravery.

With such a large cast of clearly talented young performers, it’s a challenge to single out individuals. The entire ensemble displayed impressive skill and enthusiasm, a testament to their dedication and education in theater.

Acting:

One standout moment was The Song of M, a playful number composed by Tim Nelson, which had both the cast and audience delighting in its tongue-twisting lyrics. The performers handled the intricate wordplay with precision and humor.  I found myself utterly enamored with Addison Nguyen as the Dormouse. She was as charming and engaging as could be. There’s a moment when the Dormouse is standing up, attempting to tell a story, and Alice keeps interrupting because she doesn’t think it makes sense. I wish Alice would pipe down and let the Dormouse continue.  I even overheard children in the audience attempting the lyrics themselves—an unmistakable sign of engagement.

Parts of the story that I generally never found interesting were made much more enjoyable by either catchy songs, talented kids, or both. I have never, and I do mean never, cared about Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum, but Donovan Monroe and James de la Cruz crushed the roles with their singing and slapstick routines.

Bellami Smith was the lead as Alice on my night. She has a beautiful voice. I was quite impressed with how long she held the final note in Alice’s song “In My Mind”—and served as a good catalyst for the absurdities of Wonderland to occur.

Costumes:

 I thought the costumes were beautiful, particularly the butterfly costumes. Whereas the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland is usually played for laughs, here it was directed and played much more straight, with the Caterpillar (played on the 15^th by Ellen Bangle) doling out advice in a much more level-headed and almost straightforward way. In the midst of her song “Changing is Growing,” she temporarily leaves, only to flutter down via wire in the form of a graceful and elegant butterfly.

Final Thoughts: 

With so many colorful characters (figuratively and literally), it’s easy to understand why this is a good children’s play. The actors were so good. The costumes were beautiful. The set was creative and charming, with an expansive stage for children to run around on, a bridge, balloons, and even suspension from a wire.

Review

8.4 Overall

Users 0 (0 votes)

Story7.5

Acting8.8

Set & Design8

Costumes8.8

Entertainment9

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Very Good Show! OCR Recommended! NOVEMBER 8-17, 2024