Alice (in Wonderland)

Alice (in Wonderland)
Colorado Ballet 
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
February 19-28, 2016

The story of Alice in Wonderland seems to have two identities – the popular Disney film and an association with 1960’s drug culture. The production of  Alice (in Wonderland) by the Colorado Ballet attempts to join these two themes.

It is clear that the creators wanted their audience to feel off balance. The proscenium and stage which are usually black were all white for this show. The special effects were clever and well thought out – except for the doll dressed as Alice who was whirled around after she fell through the rabbit hole. The doll was a cheap tactic that fooled no one.

The rest of the effects were creative, a series of doors in different sizes to demonstrate Alice’s shrinking and growth; Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum riding a bicycle through the air; a caterpillar which blossomed into a huge butterfly before our eyes. The process of creating the effects wasn’t a mystery, as we could usually see wires and set up but the results were impressive.

The costumes were what we would expect – right down to Alice’s blue dress. However they were very creative in the court of the Queen of Hearts where the ballerinas wore tutus made of playing cards. And the animal costumes captured the essence of the characters without being overwhelming.

The dancing was surprising. In many parts it wasn’t ballet at all. But the dancing always fit the characters and mood of the scene. Especially fun was the constant use of a children’s corps. They appeared to shrink the adult dancers as well as give depth to group scenes.

The music was not the traditional classical score of a ballet. We often heard the discordant sliding of a violin and unsettling percussion.

Alice is not a traditional ballet, but it succeeds in capturing the strange and fantastic nature of Wonderland.