ALICE CLEANS UP WONDERLAND

TOWN HALL ARTS 

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

 

                                          Brian Murray as W. R.

                 (photo credit: Maggie Tisdale)

 

With “ALICE CLEANS UP WONDERLAND,” Pamela Clifton proves that theatre can not only be entertaining, but also educational.

      Clifton wrote this marvelous piece for grade school and middle school children in our community in order to foster environmental awareness and social change. 

    The school children in attendance at the play’s first performance at Town Hall Arts in Littleton were totally engaged with rapt attention and lots of giggles. To be truthful, the piece enchanted those adults present as well.

     Together with the superbly gifted Martha Yordy, who created the whimsical musical tracks, Clifton weaves a tale based upon your memories of “Alice In Wonderland.”

     Alice (Lynzee Jones) is first seen not only as an apathetic and narcissistic brat, but also an antagonistic one as far as caring about the environment goes. She would prefer that the gorgeous trees be chopped down so the world could have 'more shops and a wider boulevard.'

     She’s also non-plussed by graffiti and clueless about composting. 

     W.R., the white rabbit, is played with gleeful disdain by Brian Murray. He’s a negligent and greedy toy factory CEO who only wants more and more money and who allows spillage of dangerous chemicals into the water and thus, the land of the small community. Alice learns more about his greed when she visits his factory.

     Realizing that her apathy is to blame, Alice joins the people who are protesting. She creates posters and signs saying things like: “Wake Up! Look around!” and “People don’t care about the air!”

     Clark Brittain is of special note in the roles of Door and Worm. Brittain brings a wealth of wit and double entendre to his characters. In the role of Door, he's the victim of spray paint graffiti. Then as Worm, he gets to be a sort of “natural” hero, chomping up the compost! Brittain charms in both roles!

     First seen as skateboarding girls with boom box, and later as flowers in the box, Cecelia Kim and Maggie Tisdale double up as hilarious singing partners Dee and Dum and Rose and Daisy, illustrating the damage being done by W. R. and his factory on the flora and fauna of the land.     

     Both women fill these characters with warmth and humor. Later in the show, these two create a thing of beauty and Art out of items - string and sticks- discovered in the trash. Slamming trash can lids together, they perform a mini version of your rhythmic and percussive memories of shows like STOMP! In such a way, they incite demonstrations against industrial waste and pollution. 

    Kristianne Seaton is the concerned face - and voice - of the Tree.

     The costumes are vibrant and inventive. For Brian Murray’s White Rabbit we get a mafia-flavored rascal with long white ears extending well beyond his colorful fedora, and a cotton tail protruding from his back pocket.

     Brittain’s costumes for the characters of Worm – a trash bag is used as a bib while he’s in the tan sleeping bag outfit - and a pop-tart looking Door ( he’s the filling!) are just perfect.

     The canvas backdrops for the various scenes work wonderfully well.

      There is also an eye-popping gizmo simulating industrial machines at the factory, that you’ll have to see to believe.

By the end of the show, children have seen and felt the need to “reduce, reuse and recycle,” as well as stand against smog-filled air, chemically poisoned water, and trash-littered landscapes.

 

Please be aware. There will be bubbles!!!

 

Local Educators: This show comes highly recommended from this critic’s desk as educational theatre for grade schoolers and middle schoolers alike!

Contact Town Hall Arts Center( 2450 W. Main St. Littleton, CO  80120)

303-794-2787 or go online at townhallartscenter.org