By David DeRocco

Before you venture off into theatres to watch the latest Disney/Tim Burton/Johnny Depp trashing of Lewis Carroll’s imaginative stories, you may want to consider a more immersive Alice in Wonderland experience like the one now being staged at the Shaw Festival.

It seems only fitting that the majesty of Carroll`s epic tale be staged in the Festival Theatre, a venue officially opened in 1973 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for this production is royally lavish. The Shaw`s Alice in Wonderland is a kaleidoscopic cornucopia of colour, a truly vivid feast for eyes bound to be opened wide by the imaginative costumes and shifting landscapes woven into Alice`s journey underground. While Alice and her astonishing adventures are the enduring focus of the story, the real stars of this production are never seen on stage. Costume designer William Schmuck, set designer Eo Sharp and director Peter Hinton have to be considered the adaptation`s “three stars” for their work on this highly original telling of Carroll`s classic.  

Schmuck’s efforts are noticeably present when Alice winds up in the company of The Queen of Hearts and her subservient minions; the green screen imagery of the Hollywood films can’t compare to the brilliant costumes and gleefully realized characters that grace the Shaw stage during the second half of Alice’s journey. While Alice was always meant to be a children’s story, audiences of all ages – and all degrees of theatre-watching pedigree – should be delighted by the stunning visuals and theatrical magic that marks this adaptation, which is on now through October 16^th in the Festival Theatre.

A production three years in the making, Alice in Wonderland is a multi-media extravaganza that manages to be both intimate in its story-telling and mind-blowing in its mastering of contemporary technology. From the moment of Alice’s unexpected 4,000 mile descent into the underworld, you realize this is no ordinary Shaw production; under Hinton’s skilled direction, for example, the technical team behind the staging of Alice in Wonderland has managed to brilliantly deal with the many challenges of Alice’s shifts in size, while shifts in scenes from the real world on the surface to the imaginary world below are equally awe-inspiring.

Shaw’s departing Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell can certainly be proud of this production and its star, actress Tara Rosling. Playing a 10-year-old girl is no small feat for a full-grown actress, and even more so when that girl is surrounded by talking rabbits, sarcastic turtles and angry playing cards. Rosling, in her ninth year with the Shaw, does a masterful job in bringing Alice Liddell’s youthful spirit of adventure to life; she’s wonderfully precocious when challenging her un-imaginative family, and confidently fearless as she confronts the parade of nonsensical personalities she encounters on her journey.

Fans of Carroll’s work will not be disappointed by this stunning piece of theatre, which features a whimsical musical score and engaging choreography. Skip the movie this summer and experience a rollercoaster ride that's truly worthy of a place called "wonderland."  

(*Photos provided by David Cooper)