Review: Alice in Wonderland, Brixton House
Review: Alice in Wonderland, Brixton House
Just brill. A Christmas show that will appeal to all children – from 3 to 103.
Theatre production company Poltergeist and Brixton House managed to create their very own version of Alice in Wonderland that is both imaginative and relatable, that expands on the source material whilst also keeping faithful to its spirit.
After bickering with her mum, Alice gets lost on the tube and sucked into the wonderland… but without ever leaving the tube. Here she meets a host of colourful characters, including the not-so-mock Tortoise, a hopelessly overworked Rabbit and a tea party consisting of Rat, Nose and Pigeon who conspire to overthrow the Queen of the Line – and learns how to face the Jabberwocky, help Chatter to turn plans into actions and what does her mother’s love really mean.
The script by Jack Bradfield is imaginative and filled with puns, jokes and references to a good many underground stations. Some are uber clever, some rather cheesy but the commitment is admirable, especially that Bradfield’s direction, although sometimes dangerously leaning towards kitsch never plunges there completely. It is witty and energetic, and even moving when it needs to be – and brilliantly complemented by extremely impressive (and awfully catchy) rap lyrics by Gerel Falconer (credited as the show’s rapperturg) performed by Nkhanise Phiri (Alice) and Toyin Ayedun-Alase (Chatter and Mum). They are both brilliant but especially Phiri who basically does not get a single moment off-stage, embodying the teenage Alice with exceptional integrity and versatility – perhaps the best child characterisation of this Christmas season. The rest of the cast is outstanding too, shifting between different characters with breakneck speed.
Set design by Shankho Chaudhuri is also unusually clever – the long stage is divided into “carriages”, each hosting a different creature. Both ends resemble a tunnel and there’s some Lewis-inspired Art on the Underground, too. In the final fight – Alice using, of course, the local version of the Vorpal Sword – the ceiling lowers to imitate the Tube train roof. The fight is slightly clumsy but entertaining to watch and well directed by Rebecca Wilson and Lucy Wordsworth.
Just brill. A Christmas show that will appeal to all children – from 3 to 103.
Brixton House, until 31 December
Image: Helen Murray
