Alice in Wonderland

This was my first visit to the Willingdon Church Players and what a very warm welcome I received from the moment I introduced myself. It was a pleasure meeting the Chair/Director who was also playing the ever grinning and head shaking Cheshire Cat – who was brimming with such passion and expertise. The hall was buzzing with a fine community spirit, above the curtain line zig zagged lights shone and large playing cards decorated the black flats set as extra exits.

The atmospheric music played for the four masked players who formed the prologue front of curtain and opened into the home of Alice, her sister Henrietta and father William who is about to marry the ghastly Mona Lott, and of course dame Nanny Nellie who is madly in love with William.

The artistic, colourful fantasy scenery was created and constructed by Kate Springett, Kevin Simes, Rob Cooper and Toby Wilcox complete with wonderful props. We went into the country by a river, into the woods, a well-equipped kitchen for Sheila Markham portraying a comedic cook and to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party as well as Alice’s house. The backing track music was designed and managed by Ewan MacQuire-Plows using an ‘echo’ technique, with pre-taped cast voices over for some of the numbers creating a first-class sound. The lighting too was well cued and effective.

The bright musical numbers were well chosen and confidently put across – a particularly lovely ‘Million Dreams’ as a duet from Emma MacQuire-Plows, delighting us as principal girl Alice together with Henry Yeo as Henrietta. A very strong chorus number from Gilbert and Sullivan of  ‘Lord High Executioner’ from ‘The Mikado’ as Toby Wilcox appeared on the frequent  ‘off with his/ head’ command from a very fierce Queen of Hearts played menacingly by Carolyn Cooper, plus being almost as beastly as Mona Lott who was to marry William, but didn’t thank goodness. A foot taping ‘Colour my World’ and ‘Ring out the Bells’ which I believe is the groups signature piece certainly rang out.

The cast appeared in an array of imaginative costumes for both humans and creatures supplied by the large hardworking wardrobe team. Make-up, exaggerated wigs, and accessories too so detailed. Trevor Amey played to the audience, amusingly to some of the gents, a colourful Nanny Nellie and Lady in Waiting to the Queen – love forlorn but who did in the end get her secret love William with Anne Richardson taking this role also doubling as the King. Holly Cooper – The White Rabbit wearing her white rabbit suit and carrying her clock, rushed about always ‘late for a very important date’. Using the central aisle for Alice’s falling down the rabbit hole to get to Wonderland working well. Coco Kimberley confidently played the Mad Hatter in steam punk style and oversaw the crazy tea party attended by other strange named characters, all played beautifully. There was a quartet of creature chorus members, a naughty Knave who ate the tarts, and a trio of The Queen’s cards all adding to the rich mix.

This fun NODA script was given life by the artistry and vision of Annabel and a responsive in script, music and movement cast giving us the audience a most enjoyable community spirited evening out. Thanks of course must go to all the other numerous helpers F of H and backstage to make such a production possible. The programme which included our NODA logo and wording was well put together and I have taken copies to put forward for the annual Programme and Poster competition.

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