Wonderland

There was certainly a buzz in the theatre and the large crowd of around 230 were clearly anticipating a good evening. We were not disappointed and the clapping and cheering rebounded around the theatre throughout the show at every available opportunity.

Written and directed by the talented, Rowan Lathey, we were taken on a magical journey to Wonderland, encountering well-known characters along the way.  Jai Doewsett was an excellent Reporter, speaking with clarity and confidence as she guided us through the story of how Wonderland, under the spell of the Queen of Hearts, was now the saddest place in the whole wide world. All ended well but what a journey we were taken on and the characters we met along the way were all outstanding and so entertaining.

The costumes were exceptional being colourful and individual. This must have been a mammoth task, there being several changes of cast over the two shows. Particularly impressive were the Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar Connie, Wight Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts costumes, although every item of clothing had been very well thought out and all the cast looked amazing.

The opening song ‘Can You Feel It?’ was a good choice because, yes, we could! The enthusiasm shone through right from the outset. The singing and choreography, throughout, were very well executed. Of note were the use of walking sticks, difficult to achieve in a routine but not for this talented troupe! An improvised maypole, in the form of a large umbrella, with ribbons, was a lovely touch and the cast performed extremely well, dancing elegantly around it with no mishaps. They made it look so effortless.

The lighting was effective and the use of head microphones for the principal characters helped with the overall sound. The set was simple but effective with rotational screens at either side downstage making it easy to change, allowing room for the large cast to perform effectively. The reveal of a backcloth comprising a structure of playing cards was glorious and brought gasps from the crowd as it was so effective The Hatter’s tea table looked very authentic and again was cleverly constructed and thought out.

It would be impossible to mention everyone as the standard was very high and clearly the whole cast gave their all. However, Rachel Stone playing the Cheshire Cat was hilarious and had a good response from the crowd, particularly with her asides. Henry Price as the Wight Rabbit bounced onto the stage with aplomb and was cheered on every occasion he appeared. He was excellent and really gave the part his all. Aaron Danvers-Juke as the Queen of Hearts, not only looked superb but was outstanding and, despite being the villain of the piece, managed to be likeable in a cheeky way. Well done to everyone.

Exits and entrances were very creative. The use of flatulence enabling the Queen to exit was a stroke of genius adding a great deal of humour. After drinking the shrinking potion, Alice, played very well by Freya Webb, exited and was seamlessly replaced by Lacie Quigley playing  Little Alice, who, despite her young age, spoke with confidence. The show had more besides singing and dancing, there were also some good jokes from The Tweedles. Indeed, there was  something for everyone to enjoy.

This really was a fantastic show. Full credit to the cast, production team, First Act Staff and Support Staff. This was a show to remember.

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