Will Todd's family-opera version of the Alice in Wonderland stories, premiered at Opera Holland Park in 2013, has been a signature show for the company. After several years performed on mini-stages around the lawn, it has now moved into the main theatre. Leslie Travers's Victoriana set elements were adapted by Ceci Calf, with Martin Duncan reworking his original direction.
Plot and Characters
Todd and librettist Maggie Gottlieb present familiar characters and scenes from Lewis Carroll's stories, nudging them into a gentle rescue-story scenario. Alice shelters in a pet shop with her horrid brothers, releases the White Rabbit from his cage, and sets her Wonderland adventure in motion. She puzzles with the Cheshire Cat, witnesses the demise of an Ofsted-worthy Humpty Dumpty (who sings 'regular assessment's a social investment'), and has tea with the Mad Hatter. She saves her new friends from penal servitude in the Queen of Hearts's jam-tart factory and returns to the pet shop, where the Rabbit has magically acquired opposable thumbs, ending happily. The singers take bows and chat with children watching from cushions at the front.
Music and Performances
Todd's music, played by an 11-strong orchestra conducted by Dominic Ellis-Peckham, is bright and pacy. It is chameleonic, switching between styles, but with standout moments. Madeline Robinson beautifully sings Alice's musical-theatre belter. Fleur de Bray delivers the 'Drink Me' Bottle's soprano acrobatics sparkily. Le Gateau Chocolat, as the Caterpillar in green sequins smoking his hookah like Audrey Hepburn, performs a blues number that is the catchiest in the show.
Production and Reception
The eight-strong chorus of curious Victorians effects clever scene-changes swiftly and neatly, vocally making a big deal of it. Some original charm from the garden may not fully translate to the theatre, but OHP's Alice remains a slick and enjoyable show. Performances run until 27 June at Opera Holland Park, London.
