By Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd.
Ferguson Hall
David A. Straz Centre for Performing Arts
Tampa, FL January 6, 2011
When you're asked "who are you?" Our initial answer usually follows with simply, our name. Although, when you stop to consider, "who are you?" is a very different question from "What's your name?"
Originally produced in late 2009, The Straz Centre's first production of thier Broadway Genesis Project, Wonderland, again treats Tampa to the best of what musical theatre has to offer. Slated to open in New York this spring, Tampa gets to sneak peek this Broadway show in the aptly sized Ferguson Hall. With top-notch lighting, brilliant set and costume design and a touching story through song, Wonderland is ready to take the Broadway world by storm.
Our show begins with Alice as she laments about the worst day of her life. Having to juggle impending pressure of her editor, our overworked writer/mother in New York struggles to find time for her daughter or soon to be ex-husband. At a glance, the show is simply an updated musical retelling of Alice in Wonderland, although Wonderland tells the story of Alice as she follows her alienated daughter down the rabbit hole and finds herself along the way. Recurring themes of love, self-discovery and reconciliation compliment the spectacle on stage. Complete with The Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat (cleverly altered to "El Gato") and the Caterpillar, Wonderland is a classic literary masterpiece brought to life like never before.
With the exception of one, all the original characters return again to the show. Janet Dacal once more shines as the leading lady in the role she created a year ago. Interacting with each character, Dacal's Alice shows a range few in Tampa are lucky to witness. Bravo. Kate Shindle takes my least favorite character from last year and emerges as a love/hate antagonist, the Mad Hatter. Introducing herself as the cabaret singing titan of Wonderland, Shindle's performance left nothing to be desired anytime she was on stage. Taking the stage at age eleven is Carly Rose Sonenclar as Alice's daughter Chloe. I was amazed at the vocal range and stage presence of this wunderkind and look forward to see what else she can accomplish with many years ahead. Edward Staudenmeyer, Jose Llana, E. Clayton Cornelious and Danny Stiles each gave skillfully acted performances as the Rabbit, El Gato, the Caterpillar and Morris respectively. I always look for what I call the anchor of the production and I undoubtedly award Darren Ritchie in Wonderland. Taking the stage yet again as Jack and the White Knight, this year's performance was taken to the next level with Ritchie's ability to flirt with the fourth wall and keep the performance going without interruption.
Originally produced in late 2009, The Straz Centre's first production of thier Broadway Genesis Project, Wonderland, again treats Tampa to the best of what musical theatre has to offer. Slated to open in New York this spring, Tampa gets to sneak peek this Broadway show in the aptly sized Ferguson Hall. With top-notch lighting, brilliant set and costume design and a touching story through song, Wonderland is ready to take the Broadway world by storm.
Our show begins with Alice as she laments about the worst day of her life. Having to juggle impending pressure of her editor, our overworked writer/mother in New York struggles to find time for her daughter or soon to be ex-husband. At a glance, the show is simply an updated musical retelling of Alice in Wonderland, although Wonderland tells the story of Alice as she follows her alienated daughter down the rabbit hole and finds herself along the way. Recurring themes of love, self-discovery and reconciliation compliment the spectacle on stage. Complete with The Queen of Hearts, The Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat (cleverly altered to "El Gato") and the Caterpillar, Wonderland is a classic literary masterpiece brought to life like never before.
With the exception of one, all the original characters return again to the show. Janet Dacal once more shines as the leading lady in the role she created a year ago. Interacting with each character, Dacal's Alice shows a range few in Tampa are lucky to witness. Bravo. Kate Shindle takes my least favorite character from last year and emerges as a love/hate antagonist, the Mad Hatter. Introducing herself as the cabaret singing titan of Wonderland, Shindle's performance left nothing to be desired anytime she was on stage. Taking the stage at age eleven is Carly Rose Sonenclar as Alice's daughter Chloe. I was amazed at the vocal range and stage presence of this wunderkind and look forward to see what else she can accomplish with many years ahead. Edward Staudenmeyer, Jose Llana, E. Clayton Cornelious and Danny Stiles each gave skillfully acted performances as the Rabbit, El Gato, the Caterpillar and Morris respectively. I always look for what I call the anchor of the production and I undoubtedly award Darren Ritchie in Wonderland. Taking the stage yet again as Jack and the White Knight, this year's performance was taken to the next level with Ritchie's ability to flirt with the fourth wall and keep the performance going without interruption.
(Janet Dacal as Alice in Wonderland)
Having the opportunity to see both productions of Wonderland, I can say without a doubt that the new show is leaps and bounds ahead of last year's. I noticed many of the revisions of the show and was happy with the end result. 2009's production followed the formula of a musical revue featuring each one of the talented cast members, which took away from the overall story. This years production connected story and song seamlessly. The new Alice was more aware of what was going on, appearing more lost in a dream in the original. There were many parts of the show that I didn't care for last year, including the seductive Mad Hatter, the dubious Jabberwocky and over the top entrances for each new character. As if they read last year's reviews, all of the questionable scenes were cut and/or reworked for the benefit of the show. Kudos to the creative team for looking at the big picture and doing what was best for the production.
All in all, I enjoyed the production of Wonderland. New songs, new cast members and a bright future encompass the new incarnation of Wonderland. My hat goes off to the cast and crew again for coming together and making something special in Tampa before taking to the pinnacle of the theatre industry.
Wonderland plays at Ferguson Hall at the Straz Centre through January 16th. The show packs it's bags for the Great White Way in the spring, so get yourself to the show before it closes. Please click here for more information. Don't forget to check us out on twitter and/or facebook for the latest on the performing arts community in Tampa Bay.
Music of the post - emery
