Children of all ages were the edge of their seats at the opening night of the Alice in Wonderland theatre production at Canal Walk Theatre on Thursday June 22.
The musical is an adaptation of English author, Lewis Caroll’s, Alice in Wonderland.
Director Marcel Meyer, said their mission was to keep the classics alive for young people but also to entertain people of all ages.
Mr Meyer said the Alice in Wonderland theatre production is told through song, puppetry, sets and costumes.
The cast is made up of only five performers.
Isabella Jane plays Alice, Thinus Viljoen plays The White Rabbit, Hlumeo Yawa plays the Queen of Hearts and the talking Caterpillar, Lungile Lallie plays the Mad Hatter and Tweedledee, and Mamello Maketha, plays the Hare and Tweedledum.
Tabletalk were given front row seat for the dress rehearsals on Wednesday, June 21, while the lights, cameras and action were being set up.
Alice and the Queen had fun playing their roles, while Mr Meyer watched with a finger on his lip.
“Good job, well done,” he exclaimed as the cast completed what they had been rehearsing for the last six months.
In the adapted story, Alice plays cards with her sister, Edith, and is daydreaming of a wonderful wonderland, “where everything is as it isn’t”. Alice suddenly finds herself talking to the white rabbit who disappears down a hole and Alice follows.
She finds herself in a magical garden where strange things happen. Alice meets Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who put on a puppet show, the Mad Hatter and Hare, who have a never ending tea party, and a heartless Queen of Hearts, who orders that Alice be beheaded.
All the while Alice longs for home.
Isabella Jane said the high-energy story and talented cast encourages imagination and adventure.
Tickets prices range from R90 to R110, and for each ticket sold, R5 will be donated to Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (CHOC).
CHOC spokesperson, Lynette Muthuray said the team is extremely delighted to have been chosen as the charity beneficiary of programme.
“It is an honour to partner with Canal Walk. The funds received will truly assist CHOC in continuing to provide our services and programmes to children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer and life threatening blood disorders.”
