Disney - Alice in Wonderland Jr

This Disney script is based on the 1951 Disney film “Alice in Wonderland” and the novels “The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carol, therefore the musical has all the characters you would expect.

On a perfect summer’s day, Alice sees a White Rabbit hurrying by, curious to know where he’s going; Alice follows him into a dark tunnel, thus beginning her adventure!  After the Doorknob counsels Alice to drink from a bottle; then eat a cookie, Alice shrinks; this allows her to fit through a keyhole, and begin her adventures with the Wonderland creatures. The White Rabbit takes Alice and introduces her to Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, who teach her some manners. Following the advice of the Cheshire Cat, she ends up at the Mad Hatter's tea party where she plays a wild game of musical chairs and encounters the evil Queen of Hearts. Waking up, Alice realizes the entire story has been a dream!

Where else would you want to spend a ‘Perfect Sunny Summer Sunday afternoon’ other than in ‘Wonderland’ or in this case ‘Bootle Town Hall’, with some of the nicest folk on the planet and a group of talented young people who were enjoying themselves to the full, whilst thoroughly entertaining those present!  Bootle Town Hall was full of excited kids and parents all ready for the performance...and once those curtains opened, we were not disappointed!

The most ‘nervous’ person in the Town Hall that Sunday afternoon was the Society Chairman and ‘first time’ Director Nicci Henshaw. No need for nerves or tears Nicci...this was a great production, be proud!  Assisted by Musical Director Wayne Oakes and Choreographer Sarah Henshaw there was little or no doubt that everyone who attended this production enjoyed it and showed that fact with a ‘standing ovation’ at the end.... be ever so proud folks! 

With thirty in the cast ...where else would you start but with ‘Alice’ our lead....but in this case we had three leads ‘Regular/Small/Tall Alice’.... played respectively by Daisy Bond, Jessica Keggin and Caroline O’Beirne.  All three were perfect for the role, producing some great characterisation....BUT I’ve got to ‘stick my neck out’ and hope I don’t offend Daisy and Caroline because you were great, but Jessica Keggin, at 9 years old, was amazing!   Confident, great stage presence, facial expressions, good singer, great dancer.. be proud young lady, be proud!

We had a ‘three person’ ‘Cheshire Cat’ – ‘Head/Body/Tail’ played respectively again by  Alice Melling, Megan Cawthron and our ‘youngest stage member’ – aged 6, Ethan Hennessey!  The Cheshire Cat acts as the narrator for the production and these guys were individually good and collectively great with some great comic moments!

Emily Farrington was our ‘White Rabbit’.. well cast,  great characterisation. As you would expect always busy, always on the go, always looking and sounding worried...her rendition of ‘Its Late’ was really good. Be proud!

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum played by Joseph Ramsay and Tommy Austin respectively!  The chemistry between them was great; we were laughing before they actually spoke!  They produced some great comedic moments and their rendition of ‘How D’ye Do and Shake Hands’ a highlight for me!

Other entertaining performances included: ‘The Queen of Hearts’ played by Annabelle Owens, ‘The King’ by Alex Sinclair, ‘The Mad Hatter’ by Jake Anderson; ‘The March Hare’ by Grace Lees-Hampson; ‘The Dodo Bird’ played by Aimee Parry; ‘The Door Knob’ by Eleanor Burkett and ‘Mathilda’ played by Lizzie McGuinnis ...all were perfect for their respective roles and added so much to the overall production. 

BUT, the ‘standout’ performance for me, the ‘show stealer’ came in the form of our ‘Caterpillar/Butterfly’ played by Poppie Saunders!  The programme notes say and I quote “She has taken to the role with ease” – she was perfect for the role, one cool character, full of confidence, stage presence aplenty, great diction, good singing voice, great dancer; her rendition of ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’ with the chorus was amazing; I was still singing and dancing to it on my way home....be ever so proud young lady!

The ensemble included ‘Flower Dancers and Principle Dancers’ played by Rubi Brockett, Lucy-Mae Bebington, Heidi Sauders, Poppy Sinclair and Lottie Brockett:  ‘Royal Cards’ played by Abbie Richie, Lizzie McGuinnis (who double up as Mathida), Eleanor Burkett (who doubled up as The Door Knob), Willow Cheyne, Rhiannon Samuel, Amelia Stevenson-Silcock, Leah Bebington, Chanelle Tennant and Jessica Martin.

The Costumes were superb. The colour, the quality, they totally enhanced the production... credit for the collection to Linda Hansen...be proud Linda!   The ‘Scenery and Backstage’ is down to Colin Wilson and his amazing team of volunteers... again guys be ever so proud.  Make up was fantastic ...congrats to Sophie Quayle and Megan French.  Lighting was basic but effective well done to Nathaniel Sinclair and Kaitlyn Cumberbirch.  Unfortunately ‘sound’ was an issue at times. The ‘backing tracks’ used throughout the production were ’slightly loud’, especially in Act One, when they ‘overpowered’ some of the younger, less experienced singers.  We also had some ‘quite moments’ when ‘mikes’ were either slow to come on or didn’t come on at all. I know the difficulties bringing in a total sound system, but it is something that I do feel needs to be mentioned and something that could be looked at and worked on for future productions!

As I’ve said many times before ‘productions’ like this just don’t happen ... especially ‘youth productions’;  it takes many dedicated people, who are prepared to give of their time, knowledge and experience to the furtherance of youth and there’s little or no doubt that Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company are blessed with many such people.  From the opening number ‘Dodgsonland’, which was sung, choreographed and danced brilliantly to the finale which was equally as good, this cast of young people gave of their best and you really can’t ask any more! To the entire production team I would say ‘thank you’ for your commitment it really did pay off!

Finally, thank you again for inviting my wife and I, for your welcome and your hospitality....we look forward to seeing you all again soon!

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