If you'd like to see the phrase "There are no small parts, only small actors," in action, visit the Media Theater's current production of "Alice in Wonderland." With a cast of 41, nearly everyone puts their most exuberant foot - and singing voice - forward.
On the day I attended, the lobby of the movie-theater-turned-off-off-off-Broadway-venue was packed to the rafters with trendy tots and their Louis Vuitton totin' mamas. Think Suri Cruise with a slightly flustered Katie Holmes on a very short leash. I don't know if it was excitement or the desperation of housewives that filled the air, but whatever it was, it was palpable.
Once inside the theater itself, the minimalist stage (read: rough scaffolding in place for the upcoming production of RENT) accompanied by minimalist lighting (read: unfocused and harsh) didn't exactly launch the flights of fancy Lewis Carroll's classic has enjoyed down through the years. But one chided oneself for lacking cheerful optimism. After all, "Alice" always has and always will put one's imagination, childish and otherwise, front and center.
It's a tale told a million times: a pretty little girl (Greta Bradbury) with a sweet vibrato and entitlement issues falls through a hole in the ground and, thrown into the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland, engages in a series of comically humbling adventures, gradually coming to believe that skating on the razor-sharp outer edges of experience isn't all it's cracked up to be. Ideally, in the process, the reader/audience will see something of themselves in Alice. Which is why it's such a powerful story for children - especially girls. Having been one a few years ago, I can remember plenty of yearning, hope and a steadfast belief that if one wishes hard enough, dreams can come true. (Growing up with The Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night at 7:30, I'm part of an entire generation weened on such living-color expectations...) Alice is the embodiment of all that covetousness. And for the most part, she always delivers.
Unfortunately, the central element of fun at times goes missing in this production. It's as if writer/director Tim Haney took the book, knocked out some scenes loosely based on what he read, wrote a few songs that rhyme and called it a day. It's disappointing. And the thing is, it needn't be. There are some terrific moments of talent just aching to put the playful in this play.
For example, Alice has no sooner dropped down the rabbit hole when she begins whining for home. Huh? Where is the wonder? Mr. Carroll's heroine didn't start moaning about leaving Wonderland until she'd had her fill of it. Of course, Mr. Haney has only sixty minutes to tell a deftly layered and nuanced story full of metaphor and message. And then, make it compelling for children. A tall order for anyone - even Tim Burton. Not to be a spoil sport: this show encouraged several curtain calls, so the kiddies obviously enjoyed themselves.
Apart from some weak links in the cast, most of the players seemed happy about being there. This is most evident in the songs sung by the entire company. They're a rousing good time. And some of the cast members out and out shine. There's Paige Romano as the caterpillar, who belts out her number with the verve and cajones of a young Grace Slick. The Queen of Hearts as played by Lindsay Ronaldson isn't as scary as she could be - but she gets big ups for her work with the audience. Getting little kids to come up to the stage and participate in the croquet game isn't as easy as it sounds, but Lindsay makes it work by staying firmly planted in the moment. She's got great presence, and I wouldn't be surprised if she makes a career of acting. Tara Higgins, as the little Dormouse, is aDORable, and the brothers Jewell, Ryan and Jacob, are an engaging pair as Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
As Alice, Greta Bradbury has perky looks and a suitable voice, but her work was so subtle that one didn't feel particularly compelled to root for her. I was sitting in the third row, so for her performance to feel watered-down from that distance makes me think she might have a better time of it as a film actress. She wasn't by any means bad, I just wanted her to have more fun with the role.
And therein lies the rub. What was missing, except for those times when the entire company was on stage singing their little guts out, was FUN. The production was careful, self-conscious and safe. But when you're in Wonderland, you gotta throw all that stuff out and take chances. Still, at the end of the day, I give Jesse Cline and all the on-stage and back-stage worker-bees at Media Theater credit. Although today's kids have Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, they still can benefit from as many creative outlets as possible. Media Theater kids' programs provide - through the school year sessions as well as the Summer Theater Camp.
And that's ... wonderful.
