CHAMPAGNE and chips in the foyer made way for cupcakes and teas to sustain theatregoers’ trip down the rabbit hole!
The 35-minute performance was created by Canberran James Batchelor and performed by Chloe Chignall, Amber McCartney and Emma Batchelor.
We were given a seat and encouraged to move around the theatre space with the performance, which kept things lively. Starting out as an observer, viewers inadvertently became unhelpful, hostile participants as Alice and the characters of Wonderland search for answers as to how they ended up there. Or how they could escape.
The implication is that everyone began as “Alice” and morphed into their Wonderland identities as they slowly forgot former lives. McCartney looked perfect in this role, with platinum hair and wide-eyed affectation. Although not entirely a dance production, her awkward isolations were perfectly executed and she gave a really effective solo to close the show.
Chignall’s performance as Alice and The Mad Hatter was entertaining and confidently well delivered.
While the video installations of the maze chase and the ghostly bride, (Batchelor) who became a teacher-like Queen of Hearts, added textural layering, the character didn’t fit in, either with dance or an obvious link to Wonderland.
More attention to detail in dressing the space and fixing an audio glitch in looping would have polished the show. Footage playing above the Tea Party table was difficult to see from most angles and the lighting on it needed tweaking.
This different theatre experience made wonderful use of props and space. Astroturf rabbits never looked this menacing and the Tea Party set was sumptuously full of real baked goods, as one boy discovered, when narrowly missed by a flying cupcake.
It was pleasing to find an extra show had been added to the run.
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