More than a Mad Hatter’s tea party
A classic story emerging from a hard leather bound book to being browsed on Kindle is the best way to describe Elizabeth Moir ’s modern retelling of a Lewis Caroll fable rewritten by Jonathan Yukich “Alice @ Wonderland.” The story surrounded by a 21st century setting aimed at entertaining the young and the old is being performed by the young thespians on November 2 and 3 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
Moir cast at practice . Pic by Priyantha Wickramarachchi
Directed by Anushka Senanayake, founder of Theatre Junction and known for productions such as “Cinderella” and “Next to Normal”, “Alice @ Wonderland” will be her third production with the students at Elizabeth Moir School having previously staged Singing in the Rain (Junior) and Neil Simons “Rumours”.
With her penchant for recreating contemporary theatre in Sri Lanka selecting “Alice @ Wonderland” was a no brainier for this versatile director. “Singing in the rain (Junior) was a fun production where the students had to even learn tap dancing from scratch and they did brilliantly,” Anushka shares adding that choreographer Melissa Fisher will be assisting in this production teasing an appearance of some toe tapping numbers.
For over a year Alice had been on the director’s mind. “I’ve been obsessed with the play,” she laughs adding “I wanted to choose a world that was completely bizarre”.”
Yukich’s rendition ensured that Anushka was able to play to cast strengths whilst challenging them with material outside their comfort zones. Over the two months of rehearsal she diligently worked with the students on how they would like to define Alice’s world.
The play written for a cast of 15 – 29 characters also gave the visionary director space to include a larger ensemble cast of 54 students ranging from 11 to 18 years.
Modernized, contemporary and relatable are apt descriptions for Moir’s rendition but Anushka had another motive for the plays selection “I’m always looking for those teaching moments,” she says the play allowing her to explore renowned literature in a different light.
“I always tell my students that a script is a blueprint and although this is a well known story there’s always a fresh perspective that can be communicated,” she smiles.
Certain roles like Alice, the March Hare and the Mad Hatter will also be performed by two actors and intentional choice by the director as it will bring a fresh version of the character to the play on both nights.
The climax of the performance commences with an anxious, cell phone obsessed Alice searching for a way to charge her phone. “It’s a good take on today’s teenagers and their priorities,” Anushka shares.
“Attending the play will be like attending the Mad Hatter’s tea party” Anushka gushes adding that the roughly 75 minute production will come with a few surprises like puppeteering work, dancing, rapping, some heavy accents and a whole lot of fun. “I can only hope that audiences go on this adventure with Alice and discover what Wonderland is to them,” she shares.
Alice @ Wonderland will take place on November 2 and 3 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7.30 pm. Tickets and box plan are available at the Elizabeth Moir Senior School from October 29 onwards.
(See fuller interview with cast members in the Mirror Magazine section of the Sunday Times Print Edition online at www.sundaytimes.lk).