It is not surprising that the eight-year old, scooter-riding, mobile-kid of today asked, "What's Alice in Wonderland?" Lovingly, the adult reminisced that it was a tale of a girl who tumbles into a land of harmonious chaos. But after the Civic Theatre's production, directed by Rebecca Bartlett, it was the adult who was left wondering what Alice in Wonderland was about, while the child breathlessly whispered "brilliant".
The new musical by Paul Boyd, with its 1980s keyboard compilations, seems to have missed the right rabbit-hole and fallen into a parallel one beside it. Gone is the graceful narrative of Lewis Carroll, with its conscious deconstruction of logic. The production instead seems to gobble up the story, portraying only those scenes it has the power to re-enact.
The narrator is the Cheshire Cat, a slinky feline skilfully played by Stella Feehily, who evaporates into the scenery behind her. But it is this never-changing scenery of blue skies coupled with poor use of lighting that fails to identify the scope of the imaginary world.
But the actors' marvellous characterisations ensure that this is still an engaging production.
Runs until January 21st in The Civic Theatre, Tallaght. To book, phone 01-4627477
