Photo Credit: Bill Jackson
A Guest Review by Steve Roche
Alice chats to us alone in her room with her toy box as we begin. But it’s a room full of surprises. And before long it also seems full of rabbits.
Georgia Redgrave makes an ideal Alice, full of energy and curiosity, not to mention some impressive gymnastics. She keeps the audience fully engaged as she ingeniously goes down the rabbit hole to confront the puzzles of Wonderland with the strange assortment of people and creatures who live there.
Lewis Carroll’s words and characters are cunningly adapted by Joanna Carrick to work in a limited space with a small cast. There are a few nods to panto but this is definitely not traditional panto. Oh no it isn’t.
Photo Credit: Bill Jackson
It’s quite a challenge to create the set, the props, and the costumes to make this fantastical story work, but some great teamwork has achieved just that, with impressive results.
The younger audience members were entranced, but there’s plenty of fun for all age groups. And nothing to be offended by.
Photo Credit: Bill Jackson
Alec Murray, making his debut, plays multiple characters and provides some great music. Joseph Russell is amongst other things a rabbit, a dormouse, and the Cheshire Cat with the grin that remains when the cat has left. Both maintain the pace while slickly switching roles.
Photo Credit: Bill Jackson
Emily Jane Kerr is back and on great form with her huge variety of characters and voices, improvising and interacting to keep the audience on its toes.
This pacy and entertaining production looks like another hit from the ever-reliable Red Rose Chain.
Alice in Wonderland is at the Avenue Theatre Ipswich until 4th January. Visit there website here or call the Box Office on 01473 603388
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