Lookingglass Alice - "Oh Wow!"

The Actors are not only extremely talented, but they also perform death defying feats. Forget “Cirque de Soliel” – this company performs miracles.

Lookingglass Alice pretty much follows the story of Alice in Wonderland. You remember how that goes, don’t you? Well, in case you don’t here is a refresher. Alice looks in a mirror and walks through it. A huge curtain suddenly disappears as she walks onto the other side of the stage. As the curtain goes away, we are startled to see another audience on the other side of the stage. It was as if we were looking at ourselves. What a stunning and clever device this was. And it was probably the most dramatic moment that I have ever witnessed in a Theater.

Alice sees a bottle with a label on it that reads, “Drink Me”. She does. That could be a bad thing or a good thing because the next thing that happens is that she meets the enormous Red Queen who promises Alice that she will fulfill her wish of becoming a Queen if she can pass through several boxes of a Chess board. From then on Alice meets several of Carroll’s bizarre characters.

At times you can’t exactly tell what Alice has done to finally become a Queen – but heck, who cares? Absorbing and inventive is putting it mildly. It’s like nothing you’ve seen before. This play with music is a soaring achievement that fascinates from beginning to end.

The entire play, thanks to the marvelous acting and gymnastics filled with mischievous high-spirited fun. Your attention is ecstatically absorbed, pulling you into an imagined world.

Listen! Hush! – And do be wary. Anything can happen – and it does! Who are these SuperStars that act in startling ways? Drum roll please! They are Lauren Hirte (Alice) who is just amazing; Jesse J. Perez is very, very cool as the Red Queen, Tweedle Dum, Caterpillar among others; Lawrence E. Distasi is truly gifted and daring as White Knight, and White Queen and others; Kevin Douglas (White rabbit, Mad Hatter, Caterpillar & Others will daze and dazzle you; Anthony Fleming (Chesire Cat, Caterpillar, Tweedle Dee, March Hare & Others is Delightfully comic.

David Catlin – Adaptor/Director/Artistic Director/Ensemble Member has created a Grade 'A' marvel! Don Ostling’s scenic Design sizzles! Mara Blumenfeld (Costume Designer) helps create that sensory high! Ray Nardelli (Co-Sound Designer certainly made this play ‘swing’! And Andre Pluess (Co-Composition. Co-Sound Design) along with Nardelli made the evening thrilling and spectacular. It would be great if they would tour to San Francisco.

Believe me this “Alice” will hit you with hurricane force. If you don’t find this play one of the best entertaining evenings ever, then maybe you should go down the Rabbit Hole!

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating)

Copyright © 2008 Lee Hartgrave, Beyond Chron