Photo by Jeff Gaines
Three of my kids and I were invited to attend opening night of Lookingglass Alice at the Alliance Theatre. If you have the opportunity to see it, this is one you won’t want to miss.
Lookingglass Alice engages both children and adults. From the opening scene, where Alice (Lindsey Noel Whiting) and Mr. Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll, who has a role in the play) peer at each other through the looking glass (shown above), we were hooked.
The production is very physical, and the strength and agility of the performers amazed me. Because we had also been invited to a rehearsal the week before the play opened, I was familiar with some of the more difficult stunts involved and was honestly concerned that someone would fall, but they pulled it off flawlessly.
One of the more interesting aspects of this play is stage seating: a number of audience seats are “on the other side of the looking glass”—on stage. It was interesting to watch the reactions of those seated there, and at times they were asked to participate in the play itself. If I saw the show a second time, front row stage seating would be a fun place to be. (See special discount for stage seats at the bottom of the post.)
Things you should know:
- Although it isn’t scary, there are “surprise” moments (don’t want to add any spoilers) in the play that might startle small children; it is recommended for children ages 5 years and up. My four-year-old daughter sat in my lap and snuggled up and sucked her thumb a couple of times, but she watched the whole production. My ten- and thirteen-year-old daughters loved it. They said it was “fantabulous!”
- Go to the restroom in advance. The production is 100 minutes, no intermission, and if you leave in the middle you won’t be reseated in your original seat. You can, however, come back in and sit in the balcony.
- Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There will not be a 7:30 p.m. evening performance on Sunday, Apr. 25. The Sunday, Apr. 12 show at 2:30 p.m. will be Audio Described. The matinee performance on Sunday, Apr. 25 at 2:30 p.m. will be Sign Interpreted.
- Lookingglass Alice is at the Alliance Theatre until May 2, 2010.
See it for yourself for only $15 with stage seating! Use promo code WONDERLAND15 for this great offer. (Valid for stage seating only for performances Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Not valid on previously purchased tickets.)
{Disclosure: Tickets provided for review.}
