By Erin Shakespear Bishop
Until seeing Wonderland at The Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah I would never have believed six impossible things could happen before breakfast. Wonderland is a fantastical feast for your eyes and ears.
Get swept away in this modern musical retelling of Alice in Wonderland originally written by Frank Wilhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy. The production based on a book by Gregory Boyd and Murphy spent time on Broadway, was rewritten by Gabriel Barre, Jennifer Paulson-Lee, and Wilhorn for the stage at New York University, and then given its own special bit of magical Tuacahn cake to make it grow and expand and become this glorious production involving brilliant lights, fire, dazzling projections, and even fireworks. I took three of my kids with me to enjoy this work of theatrical art and they were completely enthralled by the whole whimsical confection.
The story begins on a busy New York City street with a seemingly homeless man, Chaz (James Taylor Odom) who we soon learn is more like a wise overseer of the story that’s about to unfold before us. Then we step into the lives of Alice Cornwinkle (Kelley Dorney filling in for Crystal Kellogg), her daughter, Chloe (Harper Griffith), and her husband, Jack (Josh Strickland) as the family struggles to stay together. Alice, deciding divorce is the only option, refuses to listen to Jack’s pleas for reconnection. “Home”, a tender song sung by Alice, Jack, and adorable Chloe shows what kind of home or life each of them longs for. But what kind of life does Alice actually want? Does she even know?
At Alice’s job, we’re introduced to her boss Everheart (Lexie Dorsett Sharp), and coworkers Maddie Quizzle (Katie Lambark), Richard Hopper (Bryan Dobson), Mo (Randal Keith), Tyrell Leggett (Rendell Debose), and Jose Purrez (Michael Carrasco). Poor Alice ineffectively deals with intense pressure and a difficult deadline she needs to meet by the next day. She chooses to skip the therapy session that night with Jack and Chloe in order to work, and falls asleep on her open, expectant laptop. It’s easy to identify with Alice’s sense of overwhelm as she tries to fulfill obligations and be who others want her to be. But wait, does Alice know who she wants to be?
The White Rabbit awakens Alice. The comical White Rabbit looks remarkably like Alice’s coworker Richard Hopper, of course, played by Dobson, which is one of the first delightful nods to The Wizard of Oz. In he hops onto the scene displaying comically wide, rabbity hips. Alice dashes after the big bunny after he takes her daughter’s doll, Dinah, from her desk. “Down, down, down” (a la the Disney ride) she travels the rabbit hole, (an elevator) in pursuit and finds herself in marvelous land aptly named Wonderland. She is welcomed by a spectacular host of characters from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass who introduce her to the dazzling land by performing brilliant choreography (Jennifer Paulson-Lee) and donning wildly imaginative costumes (Vanessa Leuck). Alice marvels at the sights and sounds while trying to figure out where she is, how she got there, and how to get back home. When she sees the White Rabbit give Dinah to a little blonde girl who looks a bit like Chloe, Alice is determined to get that doll back before she goes home. And how to get home? We are transfixed as we watch the magic unfold.
Debose as the Caterpillar asks her the Important Question: “Who are you?” Alice attempts to give her name, but the Caterpillar insist again and again that her name isn’t who she is. Alice still doesn’t understand. Maybe the glasses the Caterpillar hands her will help Alice see more clearly.
El Gato, played by Carrasco, a Cheshire-like pink cat with a Latin flair, cha-chas onto the scene with his posse of dancing, partying kitties and gives Alice a pair of checkerboard dancing shoes that might help her move in the right direction. After all, if she doesn’t know where she’s going, it doesn’t matter which path she chooses.
The White Knight aka Jack (her husband), played by Strickland, and his boy band crew slides onto the scene. And, oh my holy heavens, do they own that stage. But Jack annoys Alice with his cry, “I’ll be your hero!” shtick. They argue over which direction to go and how to solve their problems, reminiscent of Alice and Jack’s true struggles in their unhappy real-life world. And while Alice might not be charmed by the White Knight and his backup dancers with their slick coordinated dance moves and glitzy costumes, they make the audience want to fangirl scream and paper their bedrooms with their smolder-worthy photographs.
When the White Knight teams up with White Rabbit, the two whisk Alice off to a certain villainous character’s tea party. Alice voices her frustration about not getting the help she needs. We are not only dazzled by the ensemble once again, but also meet the wonderfully wicked antagonist of the story, the Mad Hatter, or Maddie (Lamark). We learn of her desire to take over Wonderland with help from her henchman, Morris (Odom). Lambark shines as the evil Hatter, justifying the fun to be had by embracing madness and attending her parties. I wanted to jump up and join the dancing and tea-drinking myself.
The dotty, delightful Queen of Hearts (Sharp) is brought onto the stage in a brilliant contraption with puppeteer arms dreamed up by talented puppet designer James Ortiz and starts handing out decrees left and right while denying every request made by Maddie. When Alice asks for help in finding the missing doll-stealing girl to retrieve her daughter’s doll so she can go home, the Queen champions Alice’s cause declaring nothing else can happen until the little girl is found. Or–off with their heads!
Alice, White Rabbit, Caterpillar, El Gato, and the gallant White Knight embark on a quest to find the young girl. This, along with other subtle moments in the production, remind us of Dorothy and her quest in The Wizard of Oz supported by her own group of unusual friends who helped the teen from Kansas. Alice attempts to find the girl, while also tries to deny her growing feelings for the White Knight. But when the little girl is captured by Maddie, we learn who the little girl actually is, what she represents, and what she has to do with Alice. We also see why Alice truly needs to discover, or rather remember who she is and who she wants to be. This show had me exclaiming, “Curiouser and curiouser!” (But softly to myself as to not disturb any theater goers nearby.) Alice’s journey made me ponder who I actually am and who I want to be.
Director and coauthor Barre directed this incredible production, creating enthusiasm galore. Choreographer Paulson-Lee created all the right moves for the characters and ensemble, helping us believe we’re definitely in Wonderland. Costume designer Leuck adds another bright and colorful layer to the wonder with her brilliant creations. Christine Peters’ Scenic Design is fluid, modular, and clever and helps support the dream world Alice enters. The Lighting Design by Jason Kantrowitz and the Projection Design by Brad Peterson add to the fantasy of Wonderland, making it even more spectacular and amazing. One of the highlights of the production is the live orchestra led by Musical Director Christopher Babbage, which adds wonderfully to the charm and delight of watching musical theater amid the red rocks of gorgeous Southern Utah.
Take your family to The Tuacahn Center for the Arts to experience Wonderland, a magical trip down the rabbit hole. It is a mad ride your family will remember for a long time.
The Tuacahn Center for the Arts presents Wonderland, written by Frank Wilhorn with lyrics by Jack Murphy, Gregory Boyd, rewritten by Gabriel Barre, Jennifer Paulson-Lee, and Frank Wilhorn.
The Tuacahn Center For the Arts Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, UT 84738
May 13-Oct 21, 2022 8:45 PM, varying dates
Tickets: $32.00-$108.00 Ages 3+ Reserved Seating
Contact: 800-746-9882
Tuacahn Facebook Page
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