Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#1
Posted: 2/12/10 at 2:17am
I was very excited about this show, and I got my chance to see it last night... IN THE 2ND ROW! So, here is my review... Lots of detail...
Characters
Janet Dacal plays Alice with charm and beauty. She has an amazing voice, not my favorite character, but she didn't disappoint. Her "Finding Wonderland" was spectacular. Speaking of great singers... Darren Richie is great! I found his best vocals came out in "I am my own invention." However, I found him to be a little boring at times especially in scenes without his boy band posse, but what a voice! Nikki Snelson played the Mad Hatter wonderfully... No faults! Creepy and just amazing... "Nick of Time" was hott. But these two people really stole the show. Karen Mason as the Queen of Hearts and Tad Wilson as Jabberwock. Everytime the queen was on stage, my eyes were drawn to her. She was amazing. "Off with their heads" was the just hysterical and ridiculous at the same time! I would go back and see the show simply for her. She received clapping ovations when she entered the stage. Never in my life have I seen a character get so many clapping ovations in a show. Just loved her. Tad Wilson only have one scene as Jabberwock, but that as all he needed to creep you out, make you laugh, and feel bad for the guy at the same time. Loved his song "Misunderstood". When you see his face before this song, it is priceless. He made you love Jabberwock. I wanted more Jabberwock! These two are worth seeing the show. The Rabbit, Chloe, Caterpillar, and El Gato were fine. No major faults, but nothing amazing. The rest of the cast is not worth mentioning... They were good, but nothing too special from the rest of the cast... just typical well sung minor characters! Unless you want to include the boy band! haha
Songs
Even though "Off with their heads" and "Misunderstood" were my two favorites, Most of the songs were quite good. I loved "Finding Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass." But if you want a good laugh, "One Knight" is the song for you. They break out into a boy band number that is beyond hysterical. GO SEE IT IF YOU GET THE CHANCE! Typical Wildhorn... I am a fan! I didn't like a few numbers, "Worst Day of my life," "Advice from a Catepillar," and "Elevator Song." They were just awkward. But overall good songs. "Worst Day of my life" really needs some work. I really didn't like this number. It really doesn't grab your intention from the beginning.
Story
It makes sense... Thats about all you can say! haha... It is not bad, but it really is a crazy musical to follow. I think you can make it a little more understandable. I saw many people after the show that just didn't get the whole show. They understood the being with your family in the end, but what was the rest about. So, maybe get the point across clearer... I wouldn't know what to tell them, because I really grasped the meaning and the story. But others around me did not. Especially "I am my own invention." I heard many people around confused about that song. Make the story clearer and you are good.
Changes
There were changes from the Houston playbill I read earlier on these boards. "Curiouser and Curiouser" in the second act is before "I am my own invention." There is no more "Through the Looking Glass (Reprise)." There is also no "Curiouser and Curiouser" in the first act. I believe that is it, but I may be wrong.
Misc.
Costumes were amazing... I could see Wicked all over again. Queen of hearts is one of the best costumes I have ever seen. Very creative. Lighting was done very well. Quite a bit of lighting strikes. Choreography was ok... nothing spectacular. Go watch a boy band perform, and you've got half of the show down! There is some tricky ballet numbers in the show, but nothing to special. Set design... I am torn on. I loved the projections, but some of the set was plain, and it needed a little more. Just my opinion. But those projections were very creative.
Overall
Really enjoyed this musical. The cast is very good! This music is great... Go see this show before it closes on the 14th. Will it go farther, I duno? I am going to say doubtful due to Wildhorn's little success with Broadway even though I love him. But I enjoyed it enough to push it farther! Good luck to the cast and creative time. I hope you enjoyed reading.
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#2
Posted: 2/12/10 at 11:40am
Changes
There were changes from the Houston playbill I read earlier on these boards. "Curiouser and Curiouser" in the second act is before "I am my own invention." There is no more "Through the Looking Glass (Reprise)." There is also no "Curiouser and Curiouser" in the first act. I believe that is it, but I may be wrong.
Sorry, rapid fire questions follow, but I am just really curious for new info on the Wonderland changes, so if you'd care to answer:
- If there's no longer a "Curiouser and Curiouser" in Act I, is there still Alice finding the book, with Chloe's notes in it? Do they still have that scene, just w/out this number?
- Since there's no more "Through the Looking Glass (Reprise)," how does Act II start, does it just start with "Off with Their Heads" now?
- If the Mad Hatter's "Curiouser and Curiouser" in Act II now comes before "I Am My Own Invention," when do the Hatter and the Queen do the whole freeing of Jack/explaining the Hatter's evil plan bit? Does that now also happen before "I Am My Own Invention," or is it still after? (Does it still exist?) "Curiouser and Curiouser" felt right after the Queen/Hatter scenes, I'm just trying to picture the structure now that this number happens before "Invention."
- What's "Elevator Song?" Is that a new name for or a new song in place of "Down the Rabbit Hole?"
- What did you think about "Together?" I too LOVED "One Knight" when I saw the show in Tampa, is "Together" in Act II just as great, or does it feel like too much, like they're killing the boy band joke with another number in Act II?
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#2
Posted: 2/12/10 at 2:14pm
OK!
1) Alice does find the book, but no number is in this scene. However, I did find it interesting that in my playbill there said there was suppose to be a song there, but none exsisted? Simply Dialog... Maybe this was just an attempt at a change, because they didn't like the number? I duno?
2) 2nd act starts off with "Off with their Heads" and it is perfect!
3) After "Curiouser and Curiouser" Nikki walks off with the with her computer monitor that is glowing in her face then "I am my own Invention" comes into the musical. Then, the evil scheme scene occurs directly after "I am my own Invention." I felt like it worked...
4) The songs are one in the same, but it is just called "Elevator Song." I felt like it should be called "Down the Rabbit Hole."
5) "Together" was hilarious. No, they did not kill it! Jack is attempting to find Alice, and his boy posse is there with him. He comes up with a brilliant idea to help them. He decides to write a song! Then, they break down into another boy band classic. I thought it was hilarious and perfect. The entire audience was overjoyed. When they ran out of the theater asking ladies to call them, I couldn't stop laughing. The song is very close to "One knight." Could be twins! haha
IF you have anymore questions, I will be glad to help!
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#3
Posted: 2/12/10 at 7:08pm
Thanks for answering! Especially glad to hear that Together works- when I first read that they were adding another boy band number in Act II I worried that it might be a little bit too killing the joke of One Knight.
Oh- the scene that used to be Curiouser and Curiouser, where Alice finds the book? Does it still happen after Welcome to Wonderland?
Stand-by Joined: 7/27/09
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#4
Posted: 2/12/10 at 7:52pm
Just to clarify some more......minicko88 has a couple things confused.
The 2nd act doesn't start with "Off with Their Heads." It still starts with all the gaurds marching on singing what's known as "Looking Glass" Reprise where Hatter comes out and sings at all the prisoners (Chloe, El Gato, & Caterpillar). All of this still precedes "Off With Their Heads."
"I Am My Own Invention" comes before Nikki walks off with her computer monitor. "Together" follows the scene that ends with Nikki's "Curiouser & Curiouser."
I do agree about "Together" although I think there could be more of a scene leading into the song.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#5
Posted: 2/12/10 at 8:00pm
..I still miss Don't Wanna Fall in Love!!
So the opening to Act II is now just the "We went through the looking glass, to the lands where shadows pass" or whatever and then the Hatter saying "I don't like the way I'm portrayed in this book! Through it into the fire!" Lol will always remember that one!
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#6
Posted: 2/12/10 at 9:52pm
Ok now I'm confused.
Back in Tampa Act II started with what I would have given the made up title Through the Looking Glass reprise. The first number according to the Tampa program was Off with Their Heads, but the act actually started with the Hatter's line about the book, with "books are made for burning / queens for overturning..." So that part still exists, was given the actual Reprise name at one point in Houston, but it's just gone back to having no name?
And then, if you were just going to make a list, how does it go:
"I am My Own Invention"
the Queen/Hatter freeing Jack, evil plan scenes
The Hatter's "Curiouser..."
"Together"
or
the Queen/Hatter scenes
Invention
Curiouser
Together
which way does it go?
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#7
Posted: 2/12/10 at 11:26pmSorry for the confusion... After calling the Alley Theater, I was told that I was just given a incorrect playbill, so when i got home I didn't remember exactly the order of the scenes. So, I looked at it in order to compare it to the previous one posted on here. However, in my playbill, Invention comes before the Curiouser and Curiouser. So, If that is incorrect then I duno? My playbill isn't right... haha WAY TO GO ALLEY!
Stand-by Joined: 7/27/09
Wonderland-Alley Theater- 2/11/10- Review#8
Posted: 2/13/10 at 1:54am
WONDERLAND
2nd Act Running Order
1) "Looking Glass" Reprise
2) "Off With Their Heads"
3) "I Am My Own Invention"
4) Hatter & Queen Scene (freeing Jack)....ends with "Curiouser & Curiouser"
5) "Together"
6) "Once More I Can See"
7) Jail Scene....includes "Home" & ends with a short stanza (to the tune of "Looking
Glass") sung by Chloe, Rabbit, el Gato, Caterpillar, & the guard. 
"Nick of Time"
9) "Jabberwock"
10) The Chess Game
11) "Finding Wonderland"
Hope that clarifies some more.
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