UIV Musical

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass 

On the 18, 19 and 20 March 2010, the UIV presented their interpretation of the stunningly imaginative ‘Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass'. The first act focussed on Alice's adventures and encounters in Wonderland, whilst the second act focused on her efforts to escape the strange world she had entered ‘through the looking glass'. The role of Alice was therefore shared between two actresses and plaudits should be given to Louise and Celeste for excelling in such a demanding and central role.

Due to the fantastical storyline, inventive techniques were used. For example to ‘grow' Alice, footlights were used to produce a large shadow on the back wall of the stage effectively creating a giant image of Alice. This effect was emphasised further by the actors all directing their lines to Alice's shadow rather than to the actual Alice. Two actresses also shared the role of the Cheshire Cat enabling it to pop up in several different places at once. The costumes were equally ingenious, in particular the Caterpillar (Gabriella) who was embedded into a life –size painted cocoon. For the creativity displayed, a special mention should go to the Costume and Tech teams and their leaders Mrs Davis and Dr Bates.

The ensemble cast also did a fine job, using the wackiness of the script to create wonderfully exaggerated and memorable characters. The actresses playing animals used their physicality and body language to create realistic though anthropomorphic characters. Cynthia as the Lobster impressed by maintaining a hunched back, bent knees and crooked arms throughout. Some slapstick humour was provided by Sophia who, as the Angry Cook, threw a hilarious temper tantrum, hurling pots and pans across the stage. India Rose as the permanently harassed King of Hearts and Henrietta as the Mad Hatter also exhibited their acting skill by using dramatic pauses, facial expressions and variation in tone to great comic effect.

The musical numbers were often humorous such as the Mock Turtle's (Roseanna) pun on his childhood with ‘a school of fish' and added to the narrative of the play, particularly the duet between Prima (Philippa) and Secunda (Olivia) at the beginning of the play helping to set the scene. The accompanying dancers were also well utilised providing some strong visual imagery for the play particularly when they became pink flamingos for the Queen of Heart's (Claudia) game of croquet.

Thanks should also go to Mrs Howe the Producer/Director of the show for creating such an entertaining production.

By Ameze