It wouldn’t be the first time a show becomes successful for its visuals and its visuals alone. But this one isn’t the case. There’s praise to be given to this cute yet average adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s literary classic. But there’s some reprimand to do as well. And albeit proportionate for the most part, sometimes its balance leans closer towards the negatives.
I will let the toughest critics in the room speak for themselves. Or even better, I shall speak on their behalf. I must have been the only childless adult in the entire auditorium. Anyone else was accompanying a child or two — some of them up to four or five, which I’m extremely sorry about.
But let’s not go down the rabbit hole. The point is how little engaged its youngest viewers were. There was hardly any laughter or any cheering. In fact, they’d be lucky to get a reaction at all. I don’t know about you, but if the piece fails to trigger anything in its target audience, and the only response it gets is rather apathetic, that’s a major concern in my book.
The play follows the novel faithfully enough for a one-hour show, but it takes away the excitement of the source material. Overall, the scenes are clumsily drafted. Despite all the marvellous creatures and situations Alice faces, the impression is somewhat the opposite. In the end, it feels like an adventure without thrills, which is contradictory by definition.
Characters come and go with very little impact and next to no tension. In addition, the sense of journey the protagonist is supposed to experience is severely missing. Not only that, but every segment comes across as a lost opportunity for something that could have been exhilarating and fun. Sadly, rather than curiouser and curiouser, it just gets plainer and plainer.
On the other hand, the jokes rarely land, no matter how many attempts the script makes. Part of the issue might stem from the cast’s general lack of rapport, which inevitably makes their renditions bloodless and unenticing. Not all of them should be mad as a hatter- that role is already taken, although barely honoured -but they should brim with that wondrous stamina that makes Carroll’s universe work. Unfortunately, everyone in the company comes off incredibly flat. And it’s unlikely any of them will win their audience over, let alone become the queen of their hearts.
Albeit not spectacular, the set is arguably the production’s sole redeeming feature. Its still scenery exhibits adaptability and dynamism through deft lighting and additional props. Both the puppetry and costumes are the ultimate highlights of the design, both teeming with intricacy and inventiveness while brilliantly capturing the essence of Carroll’s original creation.
I doubt anyone’s kids will be tempted to sleep throughout the performance, but don’t expect them to leave the theatre grinning like a Cheshire cat. It’s beautiful to look at and, on the whole, moderately entertaining. However, that last accomplishment should be attributed to its literary predecessor rather than its own merits. It may well be that the show is just in its cocoon phase, and all that we’ve seen so far is its caterpillar self. Be that as it may, I wouldn’t lose my head over it.
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Alice In Wonderland plays at London’s Riverside Studios until 2 August, followed by Soho Theatre Walthamstow from 5 to 16 August. Tickets are available on the following link.