Disney's Alice in Wonderland JR

Thank you once again for your lovely welcome to review Karnon Kidz production of the Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR I was certainly treated like the VIP I was told I was! It was great to see that your members who were front of house had dressed to welcome the audience and the photo collage was an excellent addition for the audience to peruse before they entered the auditorium. Your programme provided an interesting read with lots of additional information.

Following Karnon Kidz previous exceptional performance of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ I was certainly looking forward to watching the show this afternoon. In fact, in anticipation, I purchased tickets for my daughter and grandchildren, who are Disney fans, to watch it. It was brilliant to see many family groups again in the hall. There were some children dressed up and many little ones who were totally transfixed during the production.

On entering the hall, we were presented with the stage with the curtain closed which was dressed with a decorated tree with a cut out at the bottom stage right and an old-fashioned lamppost stage left. The stage front was covered with lots of flowers predominantly red and white and there was a set of four well used steps down to the floor. The lighting which lit the scenes well was provided by Fresnel’s set on bars stage right and left.

I would like to congratulate the scenery design and painting team and the set construction duo. The scenery was brilliantly presented from the beginning to the end. The grey, white and black opening took us to the Victorian age. The triangular revolves which were fantastically painted and added to each scene they were used in. Constructing Alice’s house around her was inspired as were all the additional personal and stage props. All the scene changes were smoothly achieved by the members of the cast.

Your Musical Directors did a sterling job again. The backing tracks that provided the musical accompaniment to the show were delivered at the correct volume and the cast were on point throughout the show. They smiled and sang beautifully. Every word could be heard which just to repeat myself from your last show ‘the volume they produced without amplification was brilliant and put some adult shows to shame.’

The children’s dance routines were well choreographed and all those involved in them knew their moves.

Your Wardrobe Mistress and her team came up trumps again from the beautifully attired grey, white and black outfits in Dodgsonland to the brightly coloured ensembles in Wonderland.  The costumes were imaginative, abundant, well-fitting, colourful, awesome and any other superlative you can add!! I really think your team should offer workshops to other youth groups; such skills should be passed on. The makeup that was used were appropriate for the characters and the wigs added to the costumes.

As such a well-known story it was great to see your show begin at the beginning with Grey Alice and her sister Mathilda. They were both brilliantly attired in period dress, moved well and spoke and sang clearly. Once Alice went to sleep a pink and purple Cheshire Cat or Cat’s should I say emerged from the tree. After a little research I realised the need for three instead of one, they represented the head the body and the tail of the cat. These three are really the narrators of the story and spoke clearly often in unison, which is a difficult thing to do and sang with expression.

They were joined on the stage by the White Rabbit and the beautifully dressed Wonderland characters. The young actor playing the White Rabbit was ideal he had the agitated manner you would expect from the character and he spoke and sang with conviction. Just as we were beginning to wonder if Alice would ever change into the iconic blue and white outfit Grey Alice spun off the stage to be replaced by medium Alice. It was certainly an inventive way to ensure the continuity of the story using three actors to play Alice. They all have excellent stage presence and interacted with other members of your cast. All three delivered their lines clearly and sang tunefully, although sometimes Small Alice was a little quiet, just project a little more.

Next, we meet the Dodo and the Sea Creatures. They had obviously been well drilled because they knew their routine and sang well. Some of the Dodo’s speech was a little difficult to pick up but he had good stage presence.

The comedy duo of the Tweedles erupted onto the stage. This pair had excellent comic timing which they used to pull every bit of meaning out of their text. Their diction was great, their song was brilliantly delivered and how they didn’t get tied up with Alice during their armography I don’t know.

Next Alice was transported to the flower garden and what a mean, snotty bunch lived there. They all looked beautiful but they certainly didn’t want Alice to be part of their group. The group stayed in character throughout the scene, moved well and sang with precision.

The young actor portraying the Caterpillar did a fantastic job, what a cool dude she was with her dark glasses, her brilliant accent, her laid back attitude and her great singing voice presenting the well know Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, she certainly made the part her own and made a beautiful butterfly.  Her body keep in contact with her throughout, demonstrated the same cool attitude and mirrored her actions.

The beginning of Act 2 brought us another iconic scene in the show the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. The table was set with a variety of crockery and initially the Dormouse. The Hatter looked splendid in a top hat and was in charge of the scene. She spoke and sang with confidence.  The actor depicting the March Hare; and the door knob even losing her gold nose didn’t faze her at all; did so with a great deal of energy and stage presence belying her age. Every line was spoken with feeling and accuracy and the volume and pitch when she sang was fabulous. They were all animated throughout the scene and interacted well.

The final characters were the cards who produced an excellent rendition of Painting the Roses Red and the royal couple. The Queen as we all know is a big bully who is used to getting her own way and her favourite saying is ‘Off with their heads!’ The actor representing the Queen did a superb job! She created a big character with a big personality and a big voice. The King was quieter but regally got his point across.

I would lastly like to congratulate your Director, Producer and Musical Directors and backstage team who have worked on this production since 2020. It certain takes a determined attitude and optimism to inspire children to deliver such a positive performance after two years. Many congratulations to you all.

All those on stage created a show of the highest standard. Thank you so much for the invitation to review the show and just an additional point from my grandchildren they loved the show. Kit thought the White Rabbit was best and Lowenna loved the Caterpillar and Butterfly and they want to know when the next show is!!!

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions

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