Stepping Out

Into that rabbit hole

'Alice in Wonderland' ventures into musical fantasy

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When Alice finds her way through “Wonderland” at the Madison Theatre this weekend, it’s quite unlike anything Lewis Carroll had envisioned.
This new adaptation of the classic story, which runs Friday through Sunday, Jan. 22-24, on the campus of Molloy College in Rockville Centre, has a Broadway flair. This version finds Alice transported into the future, with direction and choreography by Baayork Lee, the original Connie in “A Chorus Line.”
Lee brings her decades-long Broadway pizzazz to this staging, which showcases students in Molloy College’s CAP21 Theatre Arts program. The aspiring performers — all sophomores — are the stars of this show, the first full-fledged production to come out the new B.F.A. program, a partnership between Molloy and CAP21, the musical theater conservatory and Off-Broadway theater company.
“We have been looking for things that wold expose our talented CAP21 kids and have really wanted to do a full production,” says Angelo Fraboni, the Madison Theatre’s artistic director. “This is a new rendition of the story, an exciting show that has the look and feel of a Broadway production. It’s a first look at our new [CAP21] program, enhancing our students’ education and is a terrific family show for the community.”
“I wanted to bring something new to South Shore audiences. We do a lot of concerts here, but for those want to see theater locally, there’s really not that much available. I thought this was a brilliant, exciting production of Alice in Wonderland. It’s new and fresh. Alice has a journey that she shares with the same great characters. It’s essentially the same story, just told in a different way.”
Alice’s story begins in 1899 on a sunny day at the Academy for Boys and Girls, where Miss Rosemary is holding her English class outside on the school lawn. The students are one by one, reading their essays about their “Perfect World” out loud to the class. The Academy librarians, the Tweedle Sisters, are in attendance to see how well the children do. Miss Rosemary notices that Alice is daydreaming as usual and not paying attention. They are soon interrupted by Mr. Bird, the gym teacher, who is running through as he is warming up for his morning exercise classes.
When it comes time for Alice to read her essay, she hasn’t written anything and is very nervous. She tries to make up a story about talking walls, flowers that sing and dance, and a pet rabbit, when a librarian notices there is nothing on her paper. Miss Rosemary stops Alice from continuing and the class responds with “Alice, you’re living in a wonderland.”
That introduction sets the stage for Alice to fall through the rabbit hole and magically into the future.
Alice travels through decade after decade meeting all the classic characters along the way — through the roaring ‘20s, Hollywood ‘30s, Big Band ‘40s, and the Beatnik ‘50s with showgirls, tap dancing and a myriad of dance styles, all featuring the delightful characters of Wonderland.
It’s a musical fantasy brought to life through the creative vision of Mark York, composer and lyricist, with writers Andree Newport and JK Langlois.
While the story starts out similar to the original version, with Alice daydreaming, her journey quickly takes on a different dynamic.
“I never liked the story as a child,” says York, “because nothing happened. Alice went from one little thing to one little thing and they never connect. I always felt there needed to be a journey, she can’t just go through all these things and just go home. So we changed it.”
For example, he says, “the part with Tweedledee and Tweedledum is set in the Roaring Twenties, who are now a vaudeville act. They talk in circles. In fact, everything goes in circles — their clothes, even their thinking. Then we move into Hollywood in the ‘30s, where Rosella Parsons, the Hollywood gossip columnist, is doing her weekly radio broadcast.”
Eventually the White Rabbit races by and that leads Alice to a Tea Party, in the middle of a 1940s radio show, with the Mad Hatter. “We have big band sounds and swing,” says York. “There lot’s of song and dance.”
The White Rabbit then leads Alice into the 50’s where Alice winds up at a coffeehouse. Because the show is designed for families, and includes children in the cast, York and the writing team removed the references to The Caterpillar using opium. The Caterpillar and the Coffeehouse Beatniks are reciting poetry. “It’s very groovy,” says York, “but still with the flavor of The Caterpillar.”
Alice then finds herself in the 60s where her journey leads her to “a big powerful ending,” according to York. “It’s a fun story and highlights the individuality of each performer. And it brings out the child in everyone.”
“Everyone will walk away with a powerful message — to believe in yourself,” York adds. “We all walk to a different beat and that’s what makes the world great. It’s a wonderful adventure and the audience will enjoy sharing Alice’s discoveries as she goes through the future.”
“There’s dancing and singing all the way through,” York notes. “When I write I think of a Broadway musical. When people think of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ they think of a kids’ show, but this one isn’t. Adults love it and kids love it. There’s something for everyone, but it’s not just a kid’s show.”
Lee, best known for her long association with “A Chorus Line,” brings her rich theatrical career to helm this production as she has guided her student actors through their paces.
“I’m having a great time here,” she told Stepping Out during a break from rehearsal. “We are pulling a professional quality production together in three and half weeks. It’s very special for all the students involved. The show has a wonderful professional energy and is very enjoyable. There’s plenty of adult humor and lots for the kids to giggle at. It’s a show for every age, with wonderful musical numbers.”
“The story that Lewis Carroll wrote is still there,” says Hannah Mount, 19, who shares the role of Alice with Julie Montobano, 20. “But here she has a context. This is certainly not the Disney version.”
Valley Stream resident Melody Rodriguez, also appears in this production as Tweedledum, along with 12 local children from surrounding communities.

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