Although “Alice Through the Looking Glass” creates an inviting imaginary world, several over-the-top scenes are stifled on the Attic Theater’s compact stage, leading to some uncomfortable moments for the audience. Yearning for a fantastic adventure, Alice (Angela Ryskiewicz) steps through her living room mirror and into a land dominated by nonsensical chess figurines. In order to fulfill her unrelenting desire to become a queen, Alice must journey through treacherous forests and rivers to reach the elusive Eighth Square, where she will ultimately receive her coronation.
Because of Lewis Carroll’s literary cleverness, the play’s humor engages all audience types. Some of the humor stems from quick-witted conversation, while other scenes rely on ridiculous costumes to enhance the many bizarre situations. In addition to Caroll’s characteristic play on words, slapstick comedy also prevails. For example, the White Knight (Todd-Christian Elliot) repeatedly falls off of his horse because of his misunderstanding of proper balance technique. In conjunction with the White Knight’s steadfast determination, the falls provoke the younger members of the audience into hysterical laughter.
Taking on a variety of roles, the cast members have trouble fully realizing each of their character’s nature. Requiring extensive study, each character is like a pair of shoes: some perfectly fit the actors, while others barely manage to stay on. Ingeniously playing the amorous Rose in the back garden, Marcel Torres must also depict six other characters. As smooth and coquettish as a stereotypical Latin lover, Torres languidly flirts with Alice. Several scenes later, he transforms into the hyper, joke-loving Gnat, which does not suit Torres’ on-stage presence as much as the Rose. In fact, he seems out of place as a wise, disco-clad insect. Unfortunately, like Torres, the other actors suffer from the same chronic issue.
Due to its small size, the Attic Theater’s stage induces an intimate feeling. However, when more than two characters are performing at once, the stage becomes overcrowded. When Torres and Elliot forcefully barge onto the scene as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, respectively, the actors overpower the audience. The sheer force of their movements and the high volume of their actions are deafening, aggressive and uninviting. When the Tweedles momentarily leave the stage, the feeling of comfort finally returns. However, as the actors invade the stage again, the hyperbolically exaggerated actions strip that feeling once more.
A result of its uproarious jokes, “Alice Through the Looking Glass” succeeds in bringing together a diverse audience. Even though the cast still needs to smooth over some rough edges, the 90-minute play can nevertheless bring out anyone’s inner child. Tickets for “Alice” are priced at $10 and the show is playing at the Attic Theater through Dec. 17.
Natalia Evdokimova has been involved with theater throughout her life and has reviewed
theatrical productions for local and citywide publications since 2005.