I saw the Hearts cast performing NOW Productions’ latest offering of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr”. The young cast (all twixt the ages of eight and twelve years) were directed, guided, instructed et al by a youthful production team headed up by Stage Director Holly EM Thompson. She was ably assisted by MD Lily Cotton, Choreographer Belle Coulson and supported by Assistant Director Anna Restall. Stage Manager Chelsie Riches wrangled all matters smoothly backstage.
I start by deliberately accrediting the production team because these young people are, indeed, the future of amateur theatre. Consequently, the experience of putting a piece like this together is an invaluable one and something upon which to build. In this production the chorus work was loud and clear against the backing tape. Movement was light and uncomplicated and the stage, with the bridge allowing for different levels of action as well as entry/exit, was well used by the production team. I did think the use of the stage “trap” might have been more interesting and dramatic with a touch of shafted lighting from below perhaps? Nonetheless all elements of the production were dove-tailed well enough.
Abigail Carr injected her Alice with a good measure of both confidence and energy. Her vocal delivery was strong and clear. Her alter sized namesakes “Small” (Lori Talbot) and “Tall” (Kasidey Ryan) both wove themselves seamlessly into the narrative that was certainly enhanced by attention to costuming detail per courtesy of Lynda Cook and Imogen Lewis. Harper Coombe was a suitably frenetic White Rabbit forever chasing time with clock firmly clasped in paw! Her vocal projection was strong throughout and her enthusiasm for the role was evident. Coombe received a well deserved ovation from her audience at the show’s end. Mackenzie Simmons’ rather haughty and cool Caterpillar offered Alice food for thought with the question “Who are you”? The Caterpillar’s life cycle is the metaphor for the theme of Alice striving to discover herself.
The Tweedle Dee (Joe Doddridge) and Tweedle Dum (Tobias Polley) add a touch of comedy with their zany knockabout antics. The Mad Hatter (Edison Dutch) and his mate the March Hare (Christian Lauro) and a slice of colourful silliness especially in the tea party scene. The Flowers of the Afternoon were a fun and feisty quintet comprising (Emma Richardson, Tahlia Mead, Savina McMahon, Imogen Seaton and Grace Barnett). They were a refreshingly cheeky and chiding little group who combined their collective skills of movement and vocal delivery on stage very well. It was clear they had been directed and encouraged to give thought to crafting their performance, and it worked!
Georgia Lauro was a shrill, no nonsense Queen of Hearts with a powerful commanding voice. She demonstrates a confident stage presence. Whilst there are a number of minor characters I haven’t mentioned my final remarks on individual performances are for Estelle Robinson as the Cheshire Cat. I thought she carried the role of chorus/narrator very ably indeed. She spoke with clear diction and communicated effectively, directly to her audience.
A nice performance I thought.
The Shedley Theatre was packed to its rafters with (mainly) junior grades primary school students. To the credit of the players on stage (and to the numerous, attentive school staff personnel too !) the audience was well behaved and attentive throughout the hour long performance. No mean feat that!
