Alice In Wonderland runs at Melbourne’s Capitol Theatre until 21st January 2024.
Families entered Melbourne’s Capitol Theatre with mouths agape, greeted by giant inflatable flamingos lining the aisles leading down to a vibrant stage backdrop of clocks and doors – the perfect magical setting for Lewis Carroll’s beloved Alice In Wonderland.
The play kicked off with a burst of energy from Rachel Tunaley’s panicked White Rabbit, who darted through the crowd, screaming “I’m late! I’m late!” and breaking into the first of many musical numbers. Tunaley navigated the stage with finesse, engaging kids early on, further heightening their excitement levels.
Stay up to date with what’s happening within the region’s art scene here.
Next, we met Cassidy Dunn’s titular Alice, steering the narrative and making sense of the more imaginative creatures for unfamiliar audience members, such as Bill The Lizard, Frog & Fish Footman, and the pepper-loving Duchess.
Despite the relatively small ensemble cast, they excelled in juggling multiple character performances, with most taking on three or four different roles. Standouts included the Mad Hatter, played by production director Dennis Manahan, and Madeleine Mason’s Queen Of Hearts, who made a grand entrance on stilts alongside Benjamin Barker as the King.
View this post on Instagram
The musical score differed significantly from the 1951 Disney animation feature, featuring some original songs that were catchier than others; the Tweedledee & Tweedledum number proved particularly challenging to follow.
However, the production incorporated numerous interactive elements for kids to join in, from shouting out suggestions to standing up to dance. The highlight was during the Queen Of Hearts’ croquet game, when pink beach balls and inflatable flamingos cascaded down on everyone, and audience members joyfully batted them about.
Alice In Wonderland runs at Melbourne’s Capitol Theatre until 21st January 2024, with performances Tuesday through Sunday and two timeslots on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available on their website: Shakespeare Australia.
This is part of the Australian Shakespeare Company’s summer production series, which also includes The Wind In The Willows and Tinkerbell & The Dream Fairies. These shows provide a perfect daytime activity for kids on school holidays, offering plenty of interaction and music to stimulate their little brains.
