Will Todd's family-opera adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland stories has returned to Opera Holland Park (OHP) as a signature show for the company, now staged indoors after several years of garden performances. Premiered in 2013 and widely toured, the production features Leslie Travers's Victoriana set elements adapted by Ceci Calf, with Martin Duncan reworking his original direction.
Plot and Characters
Librettist Maggie Gottlieb condenses familiar characters and scenes into a gentle rescue narrative. Alice, sheltering in a pet shop with her horrid brothers, frees the White Rabbit from his cage, launching her Wonderland adventure. She encounters the Cheshire Cat, witnesses Humpty Dumpty's fall (with an Ofsted-worthy comment: "regular assessment's a social investment"), and has tea with the Mad Hatter. She ultimately saves her new friends from penal servitude in the Queen of Hearts's jam-tart factory, returning to the pet shop where the Rabbit's newly opposable thumbs ensure a happy ending. Singers take bows and chat with children seated on 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, chameleonic across styles though not entirely cohesive. Highlights include Alice's musical-theatre belter, beautifully sung by Madeline Robinson; the "Drink Me" Bottle's soprano acrobatics, sparkily delivered by Fleur de Bray; and Le Gateau Chocolat's blues number as the Caterpillar, smoking his hookah like Audrey Hepburn with a cigarette holder, clad in green sequins.
Production and Verdict
An eight-strong chorus of curious Victorians executes clever scene-changes swiftly and neatly, vocally emphasizing transitions designed to move the audience. While some original charm from the garden setting is lost indoors, OHP's Alice remains a slick and enjoyable show. Performances continue at Opera Holland Park, London, until 27 June.
