Now on stage at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street.
“Joyfully and delightfully whimsical. Sharply developed, eye-catching choreography. Vocal work that soars from the stage out to the last row of the auditorium. Directed with a sense of wonder by Sue Miner.”
Bad Hats Theatre’s current adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (now on tour and playing at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre) ticks all the proverbial boxes for an enjoyable theatrical experience. According to its website, one of the theatre company’s mandates is “to create work that audiences feel part of [with] stories that they can see themselves in at any age.”
My guest and I talked later about how we connected with the story because Bad Hats cleverly imparts a modern take on Alice.
There’s the first tick box.
One can’t help but get caught up in the joyful and delightful whimsy of the story, with a courteous smile to the original author, Lewis Carroll. The female protagonist falls down a hole and finds herself in a place with people and situations that begin to leave her curiouser and curiouser.
At this first student school matinée, I wondered if the ‘tweens’ and teens might fall under the play’s magical spell. Sometimes, teens don’t follow what we think they should be doing. Judging from this first matinée’s responses, the young people did just that. The play spoke to them.
By the play’s conclusion, the characters (and even the audience) have learned a valuable lesson about the importance of asking questions and not always having the answers. This is a powerful message for both young people and adults to remember and be inspired by.
There’s the second tick box.
It’s another world when walking into the Capitol auditorium. Several of the songs in the pre-show musical soundscape referred to all things ‘Alice’. One of the songs was Lady Gaga’s ‘Alice.’
We’re in an elementary school setting where the teacher is not present. Seven tables on rollers and chairs with tennis balls allow for easy manoeuvring on the stage, with nary a squeaking sound in their movement across the stage. Precocious children mill about and try to complete their homework before harried teacher Mr. Charles (Dave Ball) arrives.
Ming Wong’s costumes become bright pops of colour when Alice leaves the world of the classroom she knows and soon enters a world of wonder. Logan Cracknell’s lighting design creates a world sharply different from what Alice knows. Cracknell’s design accentuates where the audience’s focus should be.
Director Sue Miner, Music Director Jonathan Corkal-Astorga and Choreographer Cameron Carver are a dream team. Miner’s sense of childlike wonder, Corkal-Astorga’s harmonious vocal work and Carver’s sharply eye-catching choreography create an impressive spectacle of sight and sound. The actors play various instruments with competence and finesse. Original songs by Landon Doak and Victor Pokinko nicely catch the ear through some delightful play on words.
There were a few program changes at this performance.
Rosie Callaghan (understudy) performed as the protagonist for the first time today. Her Alice is charming and precocious. It’s touching to see the growth in Alice when she returns to her classroom at the end of the show. At the top of the show, she couldn’t answer the question her teacher gave her for homework. Now she finishes the homework question and takes pride in her answer, which impresses Mr. Charles.
Several performers play more than one role.
Dave Ball is terrific as the harried White Rabbit. Eden Chiam’s sassy and strutting Red Queen reminds me of the Kardashian girls. Emry Tupper’s Caterpillar is gracious and dignified in its emergence from the cocoon stage to the butterfly. Chris Fulton’s Tweedle Dee and Chelsea Preston’s Tweedle Dum are two peas in a pod. They’re lovably goofy. Standby Fiona Sauder (play’s adapter) played the Unicorn, which Callaghan typically performs. Sauder’s Unicorn is a lone wolf who is proud of who she is, even though she appears different from others. An important message for all young people to hear.
Final Comment: Attending the talkback after this morning’s performance was essential. There are Relaxed performances of ‘Alice.’ Future audiences should consider these shows if they want to bring young children, but are uncertain about it. Relaxed performances might also be advantageous for some seniors who might not be able to sit for extended periods of time.
Call the Box Office to learn more about these relaxed shows.
This ‘Alice’ has been on the boards for the last five years. Recently, it played in Sudbury. After this stop in Port Hope, the show is on its way to Tweed for its summer theatre season. More time to catch the show.
From this retired teacher: Take a class trip to see this ‘Alice.’ Parents, introduce your young children to the theatre.
Take them, please.
The production runs 90 minutes without an interval/intermission.
The production runs until June 1 at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street, Port Hope. For tickets, call the Box Office (905) 885-1071 or visit capitoltheatre.com
CAPITOL THEATRE presents
BAD HATS THEATRE’S ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Adapted by Fiona Sauder. Music by Landon Doak and Victor Pokinko. Dramaturgy by Matt Pilipiak
Director: Sue Miner
Associate Directors: Matt Pilipiak and Fiona Sauder
Choreographer: Cameron Carver
Music Director: Jonathan Corkal-Astorga and Associate Music Director: Adam Sakiyama
(Original Music Director: Rachel O’Brien)
Original Sound Designer: Andres Castillo-Smith
Audio Engineer: Brady Van Druenen
Lighting Designer: Logan Cracknell
Costume Designer: Ming Wong and Associate Costume Designer: Ellie Koffman
Performers: Dave Ball, Rosie Callaghan, Eden Chiam, Chris Fulton, Ben Kopp, Chelsea Preston, Emry Tupper, Anika Vekatesh, Fiona Sauder
