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Wicked with a wink
"Wonderland' on Broadway
Steve Cohen
Like Wicked, the current theatrical hit about Dorothy in Oz, Wonderland is a Broadway musical based on a classic children's story. Both are quest adventures involving a young woman surrounded by strange creatures and befriended by a handful of men. But unlike the impressive Wicked, the new Frank Wildhorn-Jack Murphy musical is lighthearted, full of jokes and parodies that wink at the genre. Alice's adventures are used as a springboard to display a series of spectacular musical numbers and plenty of laughs.
Wicked appeals strongly to adolescent girls, but Wonderland is more accessible to children while simultaneously amusing adults with cultural references and double entendres that fly over the heads of youngsters. The bottle labeled "Drink me" adds, "responsibly." One song, "Hail the Queen," includes references to South Pacific, The Music Man and Gypsy. The tea-party scene includes a put-down of today's Tea Partyers. And the White Rabbit, talking to Alice, says: "I'm tardy, I'm tardy." When she says: "Don't you mean "'I'm late, I'm late?'," the rabbit responds that he can't say that because "Disney owns the rights."
Which is to say, Wonderland is certainly friendlier to adults than the bevy of DreamWorks and Disney shows now inundating theaters.
Lewis Carroll's gimmick
Its intellectual status notwithstanding, Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland begins with a simple and arbitrary gimmick"“ falling down a rabbit hole "“ and proceeds to encounters with colorful creatures who present their acts, much like vaudeville or Ed Sullivan's old TV variety show. Wonderland similarly uses an apartment-house elevator to transport its heroine to a fantasy world.
E. Clayton Cornelious (last seen in The Scottsboro Boys) is a slinky, hip Caterpillar who sings like Luther Vandross. The Cheshire Cat is Jose Llana (from Putnam County Spelling Bee), here a Santana-like salsa star called El Gato. Darren Ritchie, supposedly Alice's white knight, is a matinee idol who leads a boy band similar to Justin Timberlake and 'N Sync.
Kate Shindle (of Legally Blonde and Jekyll and Hyde) is an ambitious Mad Hatter who belts "I Will Prevail." Karen Mason (known for her cabaret performances plus the lead roles in Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy) is the Queen of Hearts, accompanied by a dancing deck of cards in a Judy Garland-type performance.
Alice as a grownup
In his earlier hit shows like Jekyll and Hyde or Dracula, Wildhorn displayed a touch for melodious tunes with catchy hooks. Here he expands his range of musical styles.
At the conclusion, an adult Alice (Janet Dacal) and her runaway daughter (appealingly played by 11-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar) sing a tender duet, "Home," then the lovely and emotional "Finding Wonderland" as Alice reconciles with her husband.
Marguerite Derricks is responsible for the snappy choreography. Neil Patel's simple sets are enhanced by computer-generated projections by Sven Ortel. Susan Hilferty designed the spectacular costumes.
Wicked appeals strongly to adolescent girls, but Wonderland is more accessible to children while simultaneously amusing adults with cultural references and double entendres that fly over the heads of youngsters. The bottle labeled "Drink me" adds, "responsibly." One song, "Hail the Queen," includes references to South Pacific, The Music Man and Gypsy. The tea-party scene includes a put-down of today's Tea Partyers. And the White Rabbit, talking to Alice, says: "I'm tardy, I'm tardy." When she says: "Don't you mean "'I'm late, I'm late?'," the rabbit responds that he can't say that because "Disney owns the rights."
Which is to say, Wonderland is certainly friendlier to adults than the bevy of DreamWorks and Disney shows now inundating theaters.
Lewis Carroll's gimmick
Its intellectual status notwithstanding, Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland begins with a simple and arbitrary gimmick"“ falling down a rabbit hole "“ and proceeds to encounters with colorful creatures who present their acts, much like vaudeville or Ed Sullivan's old TV variety show. Wonderland similarly uses an apartment-house elevator to transport its heroine to a fantasy world.
E. Clayton Cornelious (last seen in The Scottsboro Boys) is a slinky, hip Caterpillar who sings like Luther Vandross. The Cheshire Cat is Jose Llana (from Putnam County Spelling Bee), here a Santana-like salsa star called El Gato. Darren Ritchie, supposedly Alice's white knight, is a matinee idol who leads a boy band similar to Justin Timberlake and 'N Sync.
Kate Shindle (of Legally Blonde and Jekyll and Hyde) is an ambitious Mad Hatter who belts "I Will Prevail." Karen Mason (known for her cabaret performances plus the lead roles in Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy) is the Queen of Hearts, accompanied by a dancing deck of cards in a Judy Garland-type performance.
Alice as a grownup
In his earlier hit shows like Jekyll and Hyde or Dracula, Wildhorn displayed a touch for melodious tunes with catchy hooks. Here he expands his range of musical styles.
At the conclusion, an adult Alice (Janet Dacal) and her runaway daughter (appealingly played by 11-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar) sing a tender duet, "Home," then the lovely and emotional "Finding Wonderland" as Alice reconciles with her husband.
Marguerite Derricks is responsible for the snappy choreography. Neil Patel's simple sets are enhanced by computer-generated projections by Sven Ortel. Susan Hilferty designed the spectacular costumes.
What, When, Where
Wonderland. Music by Frank Wildhorn; lyrics by Jack Murphy; book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy; Gregory Boyd directed. Marquis Theatre, Broadway and 46th St., New York. Wonderlandonbroadway.com.
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