Heather Latter
What would happen if a modern-day “Alice” collided with Lewis Carroll’s classic Wonderland?
Find out tomorrow through Saturday (Nov. 26-28) as Muskie Theatre presents “Alice@Wonderland” on the Townshend Theatre stage.
“It’s a modern re-telling set in present day and it’s just sort of a twist on the story,” said assistant director Heather Algie.
“It’s not the classic ‘Alice,’” she stressed. “Things are a little different.”
Algie noted the story has all of the characters you know and love—including the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts—but Alice obviously is from the present day, with references to text messaging and social media.
“Certain characters are thrown in places where they wouldn’t be in the classic story and it’s a lot faster,” she remarked, noting the play runs about 70 minutes with no intermission.
Algie said Dany Michaud, Fort High’s art teacher turned drama teacher, chose the play based on a recommendation from a fellow teacher.
“Alice@Wonderland” was written by playwright Jonathan Yukich, who was the 2014 winner of the Shubert Fendrich Memorial Playwriting Contest for the contemporary play.
Originally commissioned by St. George’s School in Newport, R.I., where it premiered in November, 2012, “Alice@Wonderland” was published by Pioneer Drama Service in 2013.
Because of the adaptation’s popularity, a musical version was commissioned and released last year.
In two years, the works together have received more than 100 full productions worldwide.
Algie said Michaud is the director and visionary behind Muskie Theatre’s production.
“Last year they didn’t do a fall play, they did the radio play instead,” she recalled.
“He [Michaud] had an interest in putting something on stage and getting that fall play back up and running for kids who want to be involved, but don’t necessary sing or dance,” she added.
The small cast of just 13 students began working on the play in early October, with Algie saying last week that the show is coming together.
“They are working hard on their memorization but their characters are all down,” she noted.
“They’ve created really interesting characters and they are having fun with them.”
And Algie said Michaud, because he is an art teacher, has really great visions for the set pieces and for what the characters should look like.
“So he and a couple of art students have been working really hard on that because he wants to be sure that we really get that whole . . . vibe from the other-worldliness of Wonderland,” she remarked.
“He’s actually building set pieces that are interactive like costumes,” Algie explained.
“For instance, the caterpillar doesn’t necessary have a costume, but a set piece that it interacts with,” she noted.
“It should be visually pretty interesting,” Algie added. “You get to do different things with those different characters.
“The costumes get to be a lot more inventive.”
Algie said the cast includes students with a range of experience on the stage.
“Some kids have performed before and there are some who are new to the stage,” she noted.
“And as always, the kids are really great about helping everyone out.
“We have students from all grades and they are all working really well together,” she enthused.
“I think they are enjoying it,” Algie added. “They are really getting into their characters and embracing the different characters that we’ve thrown at them.”
Due to having such a small cast, the students had to take on multiple roles but she said they are handling it well.
“It’s fun and different—different than anything we’ve ever done,” Algie conceded.
“It’s really light-hearted, fast-paced, and funny,” she added, noting the characters are very interesting and engaging.
“The kids are having a lot of fun with the characters so that’s always the best part.”
Algie said she knows there have been a number of “Alice in Wonderland” productions within the area this past year, but stressed it’s a completely different show.
“You see characters in different lights and it’s set in a different time, and it’s a different story,” she reiterated, though noting the characters and premise remain similar to the classic story.
“It’s just a fun show to take in,” she enthused. “Come and get lost in another world for an hour and 10 minutes.
“Support the students in all their hard work and bravery.”
Algie added it’s sure to be a great production that all ages will enjoy.
Tickets, which costs $10 for adults and $7 for students/seniors, are available at Northwoods Gallery & Gifts and at the door.
The shows start at 7:30 p.m. each night.
