Review: THE STORY OF ALICE- An Entertaining Fall Down the Rabbit Hole

THE STORY OF ALICE/book & lyrics by Michael Cormier/music by Scott Hiltzik/directed by Gary Lee Reed/The Matrix Theatre/thru May 29, 2016

Strong vocals, sharp comedic timing and stunning visuals mark Dutches Theatre's world premiere of THE STORY OF ALICE. Michael Cormier has updated the classic Alice in Wonderland book with most of his songs smartly advancing the plotlines. But even with the incredible visuals of "Round in Circles" (the dazzling rain effects video projections and the choreography nimbly handled by the cast), this number feels like one no one was willing to cut from the show. Cormier's most clever lyrics appear in "Keep Your Temper" sung by the charismatic Santino Tomasetti as Admiral Pillar and "Name Me Names" oh-so-sassily delivered by Emily King Brown as the Queen of Hearts.

Gary Lee Reed ably directs his talented cast at a fast clip smoothly aided by Yee Eun Nam and Katerina Pagsolingan's colorful video projections on the back walls depicting psychedelic visuals or cartoon line drawings of the various Wonderland settings (and the aforementioned, wonderful rain effects). Nam's primary set piece, a wooden trunk, easily morphs into a platform in the woods, a dining table and a stove.

THE STORY OF ALICE opens ever-so-intriguingly with Tomasetti in his main role as The Cheshire Cat serving as our guide through Alice's journey into Wonderland. Tomasetti welcomingly pops up periodically (like a good award show host), also scoring with "Dream Potion" as his Chelshire Cat seductively tempts and ultimately starts Alice's journey down the rabbit hole.

We first meet Alice in modern times as the daughter of a recently divorced mom and as a younger sister to the hipper Simone. Jessamyn Arnstein ably carries the pivotal role of Alice with her pleasant vocals and her wide-eyed innocence. Emily Barnett's spot-on real as older sis Simone and very fun in a variety of other characters. Arnstein and Barnett create a winning, sometimes ribbing, most times supportive sibling relationship. Nice!

Kudos to Justin W. Yu for his committed immersion in his rabbit antics as the White Rabbit. Every hand gesture, every hesitation, every hop - all rabbit. Of course, the whiskers drawn on his face and the little bunny ears atop his tiny top hat do assist in the total hare illusion.

Costume designer Mylette Nora's contribution to THE STORY OF ALICE certainly a big plus. All Wonderland characters costumed colorfully appropriate. Nora ingeniously creates an army of three with Liam Roberts' Commander having two cardboard soldiers attached to his sides. A wonderful sight gag Robert deftly handles, especially when he maneuvers his exits sideways to fit through the exits.

But the most show-stopping moment of THE STORY OF ALICE has to be the Queen of Hearts' entrance in her bright red floor-length gown topped with a sky-high red bouffant wig. Brown certainly knows how to milk the moment, as well as, every moment she's onstage. Brown commands her scenes with her delicious crackles, her infectious laughs, her sharp punch line deliveries and her final high-whatever notes ending the Queen of Heart's songs. Brown's scene with Nic Hodges as her King's a title match of comic heavyweights. Just hysterical! Hodges, in a variety of roles, also gets a chance to stir up the gospel feels with his gorgeous heavenly wailings.

Nikki D'Amico's most comically precise in her movements as the bird Dodo, especially with her arms consistently in wing formation. D'Amico let's her arms down to have lots of fun as Twiddle Dum to Hodges' Twiddle Dee.

The fairy tale romance element receives a most hilarious camp inter-species treatment from Bradley Cashman as the dashing thief Knave (sometimes pronounced 'navy') and Jolie Adamson as Mock Turtle. Both also play other side-splitting roles - for Cashman, the Mad Hatter and a crazy prince and for Adamson, Duchess, the King's lover on the side. Cassie Crump's creative choreography suitably complement the ensemble numbers. Musical director Nicholas Petrillo proficiently leads his band (Dwight Rivera on keys, Sam Morgan on woodwinds, Dave Johnstone on drums) in performing Scott Hiltzik's compositions, never overshadowing the harmonious or solo vocals.

www.plays411.com/alice

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