Lookingglass Alice

Lookingglass Alice
Denver Center Theater Company
Stage Theater
Denver, CO 
September 11 - October 11, 2015

The story of Alice in Wonderland is a familiar one. While most are familiar with the Disney movies, many different versions exist. Some add lesser known characters or scenes that are rarely used, but none is able to pass the overwhelming confusion of Alice on to the audience. Lookingglass Alice manages to accomplish just that.

From the first few minutes, the audience is off balance. The show incorporates many surprises and special effects that are unexpected and shocking. Just when you feel comfortable, your consciousness is changed once again.

Lookingglass Alice is performed by five actors – four of which portray constantly changing characters. The talents of this group are immense. Several characters like the three-person caterpillar and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum demand  detailed physical and vocal coordination. It was all timed perfectly.

The special effects were dazzling. Alice’s “river of tears” were two blue screens which flowed like water and moved smoothly up and down, then magically disappeared. The Queen of Hearts and White Queen grew younger as the show progressed and their appearances changed in ingenious ways. Humpty Dumpty’s great fall has never been more shocking.

Alice’s adventures are overwhelming for her and the audience. One never knows what is coming at them or how it’s coming. She is showered by shoes, blinded by bright lights and covered with falling papers and none of it makes any sense. Her guide, Lewis Carroll himself, appears with a calm voice but no useful information.

Finally, Alice is presented with a rope to pull herself out. While falling and twisting herself into knots, she ultimately pulls herself to the top and finds enjoyment in her journey.

Lookingglass Alice is unlike any theatrical experience I’ve had before.  It is an accomplishment in itself to put a new spin on a classic story. However, to take a classic story and allow an audience to experience it is a new way that is not detrimental to the original, is a special event indeed.

Jekyll & Hyde

Jekyll & Hyde
Aurora Fox Theater
Aurora, CO 
September 18 - October 11, 2015

Jekyll & Hyde is a show I am very familiar with. I saw the original pre-Broadway tour in 1995 and the revival tour in 2013. I even own the original concept album. It’s a difficult and imperfect show, so I was interested in how it would translate into a regional production.

The set was well conceived – clearly demonstrating a dark, Industrial-age backdrop. The main set worked well as the streets of London and easily transformed for interior scenes. Jekyll’s laboratory was a large set which appeared to move by a manual crank was a nice touch. Creating Lucy’s room was more tedious, but the crew handled it smoothly.

The music was intriguing. The band had only five members, however this team created a complex sound. Each act began with haunting organ music and transitioned into violin and electric guitar during the performance.

The cast sparkled in this production. Even the smaller parts were created by talented actors with strong voices. The ensemble sequences were well-choreographed and sung perfectly.

Lauren Shealy, portraying Lucy, is clearly a star. She showed style in the dance sequence for the risqué “Bring on the Men.”  But it was her voice that captivated the audience.  “Someone Like You” was stunning, but it was the lesser known “A New Life” which demonstrated her command of the audience.

Not to be overshadowed, Jenna Bainbridge, as Emma balanced the complex love triangle. While playing the “good girl,” her Emma was strong and determined.  Emma’s best songs are duets. “Take Me As I Am” with Dr. Jekyll was warm and genuine. The haunting song “In His Eyes,” a duet with Lucy in Act 2, set the mood for the tragedy to come.

Naturally, the show hinges on the performance of the actor playing the title roles. Jeffrey Parker was up to the challenge. His Dr. Jekyll is well meaning and disorganized. I was a bit disappointed in “This Is the Moment” – the tempo was too fast and it seemed to be difficult for him to sing. But the next song, “Being Alive,” the initial appearance of Mr. Hyde, took the show to a new level. His face twisted into a grimace which completely changed his face. His voice deepened for both Hyde’s speech and singing. The transition was complete and mesmerizing.

The 2013 Broadway production used a recorded Hyde for “The Confrontation.” This production didn’t shy away from the nearly impossible task of having Parker switch from Jekyll to Hyde and back during this strange duet. The audience was helped by lighting cues for each character and his posture changed, but even without these aids, the transitions were clear – the almost angelic face of Jekyll was replaced with the twisted grimace of Hyde and back again.

The show as a whole is stunning. The script is not perfect, yet some of the moments I felt were the weakest in previous productions become strengths here. It was an ambitious endeavor, but the Fox was up to the challenge.

Matilda

Matilda
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
September 9-20, 2015

The book Matilda by Roald Dahl is a strange one. It is a blending of a tragic story with ridiculous humor. Yet, its story of children overcoming an oppressive school system has struck a chord with kids for generations.

The book seems like an unlikely choice to make into a musical. But it happened. It is certainly a difficult task. The villains in the story are over the top and the heroes are a bit bland. The story itself is complex and unbalanced in its telling. And the fact that it is so beloved makes the challenge greater.

The musical Matilda is somewhat successful in its goals. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, and the schoolmistress Miss Trunchbull were a brilliant blend of selfishness and absurdity. Mr. Wormwood, the stereotypical used car salesman, and Mrs. Wormwood, the dumb blonde, seem to bring to life these caricatures. Mr. Wormwood’s “All I know I Learned from Telly” was a showstopper and Mrs. Wormwood’s dance moves in “Loud” were impressive.

Miss Trunchbill, portrayed by a male actor, also reveled in hilarity. While her character is inherently cruel, the writers were able to bring out the humor in in the evil. However, some of the punishments she doles out to her students might frighten smaller children.

On the other side, the heroes of the story, Matilda and Miss Honey, have much less definable character. Sure, Matilda was very smart, but she doesn’t seem to have any interests other than books. Miss Honey was mousy and quiet, but not inspirational or clever.

The biggest difficulty of the show was in the delivery of the script and songs. The entire cast adopted English accents and delivered them in a believable manner. While the speed they spoke in seemed authentic, it made the dialogue very difficult to follow throughout the show. And most of the songs are sung at a fast pace, which caused the audience to lose many of the lyrics.

Despite the difficulty understanding them, the child actors were impressive. The young lady playing Matilda’s friend Lavender was just like many hyperactive kids we all know.  They handled the difficult choreography with seeming ease.

The first act of the show was heavy on exposition and too light on plot. Act Two definitely made up for that. The plot picked up and the story started to move. Better late than never. The song “When I Grow Up” was a highlight in sentiment as well as presentation. Seeing the kids on swings and rhythmically switching as older kids replaced them was beautiful to watch.

Just like the book, the audience was treated to a happy ending. A bit unbelievable, but no more so than many of the other plot elements. Even with all the flaws, the kids in the audience loved it.