Alice in Wonderland tumbles delightfully down a rabbit hole onto the stage at the Athenaeum Theatre during these school holidays.
A revisit somewhat of previous productions, this iteration sees a new(ish) cast interpret Lewis Carroll’s famous book for audiences in a captivating way. With shrinking, growing, falling, and floating, the show certainly relies on the depth and malleability of the imagination to tell Alice’s story of boredom gone awry.
The show grabs you from the beginning as the cast murk and forebode their way through Carroll’s poem about the Jabberwocky. It’s a fine way to get the audience tumbling themselves into Carrol’s language and imagery, before the main story unfolds.
Georgina Walker pitched her Alice just right. Curious without being reckless, cautious without being boring, Alice is buffeted by outlandish characters and situations. Georgina gave an excellent performance where Alice never felt overshadowed by the quirkier inhabitants of Wonderland.
Simon Burvill-Holmes was an exceptional Queen of Hearts, as was Catherine Glavicic in a grand turn as the Mad Hatter. Anthony Craig was splendid playing both the philosophical Caterpillar and (mostly) prostrate Dormouse. Sarah Whalen and Justine Anderson were hilarious as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.
Director, Penny Farrow, and her cast and crew have done well to capture the daring imaginative quality of the source material while telling a fun story that certainly entertained.
Alice in Wonderland
Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne
Performance: Thursday 10 January 2019
The Capital Theatre, 50 View Street, Bendigo
Performances: Tuesday 15 January 2019 – 11.00am & 2.00pm
Bookings: www.gotix.com.au
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of WA, 174 William Street, Perth
Performances: Monday 21 – Wednesday 23 January 2019
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.aliceinwonderlandlive.com.au for details.
Image: Alice in Wonderland (supplied)