REVIEW

Better than good, Alice is enchanting

Fresh adaptation of Carroll classic Language updated for today's audiences

Kathryn Greenaway - The Gazette
Wednesday December 06, 2006

Dean Patrick Fleming isn't interested in just doing good theatre for young audiences. He wants to do good theatre - period. So said the artistic director of Geordie Productions in a recent interview.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland certainly measures up. This first production in Geordie's 2006-2007 mainstage season is better than good - it is entirely enchanting.

Firstly, there is Harry Standjofski's fresh adaptation of Lewis Carroll's hallucinatory tale. Ideally, an adaptation should fit the stage and its inhabitants like a glove - despite the editing and adjustments involved - without betraying the essence of the original version.

Standjofski balances Alice with flair, retaining the clever word play and the scattered dream-like quality of the action, while updating certain turns of phrase to fit a contemporary audience.

Fleming's direction is as precise as it is playful and the ensemble cast is swell all round. Special mention goes to Glenda Braganza for her dynamic work as Alice; Chip Chuipka for his hilarious turn as Karl the talking table and the Mad Hatter; Julie Tamiko Manning for her delightfully dipsy Duchess and Gilda Monreal for the technically impressive moment when she plays both the 3 of Diamonds and 4 of Spades embroiled in an argument.

Impossible to ignore, the design team plays a leading role in the production. Ana Cappelluta's fantastical sets and lighting scheme, and Amy Keith's ingenious costumes look like a million bucks. The nonsensical nature of Alice's adventures is heightened by Dayna McLeod's fanciful video work and the playful sound design by Troy Slocum. There is substantial fun to be had.

Consumer's note: The promotional material clearly states that the play is suitable for school-age children. The mood of Saturday's matinee was marred by preschoolers loudly voicing their confusion. If your child is bored or confused, please take him or her out of the theatre. The noise ruins the mood for the rest of the audience.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is at Concordia University's D.B. Clarke Theatre, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. School matinees at 10 a.m. and noon to the end of this week. For information, call 514-845-9810 or go to www. geordie.ca.

kgreenaway@thegazette.canwest.com

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