Alice in Wonderland

Part of me thinks it’d be easier to give a review of the tangible theatrics I enjoyed most- great costumes, good acting (I liked Fiona Rene’s Caterpillar best), catchy songs (though, I thought I recognized something from the Jungle Book) but another part wants to share my epiphany (albeit slightly noob-ish) with everyone.

To begin with- Alice in Wonderland is Fantastic. You know when you’re watching those movies, and they just really hit your core? They make you step back, take a look around, and just sigh… That’s what this play was like for me. I know it sounds silly, but when the play had ended, I felt truly moved. It was like someone had taken all my confusion, paranoia, and fear and explained it in a silly, child-like way. From the first scene on, I began drawing parallels between my life and Alice’s.

For example, when Alice was trying to get through the door she kept “messing up”, and, like The Duchess said, there was a moral to her experience. If one messes up, one must keep on trying until they get it right. I expect such perfection from myself that, when I make mistakes (which seem to happen more often than not) I can’t move past it. I become so discouraged that I give up, for I’d rather limit the humiliation than potentially prolong the disappointment and fear. But that’s not the way to handle things. Alice had it right! She couldn’t just stay a giant. She needed- no, she wanted to go somewhere, so she was going to go. And, even though she wasn’t the perfect size, even though things hadn’t worked out the way she had planned, she still got through the door.

It sounds silly to say this, but I’ve been so caught up in the stress of this transition, that I’ve completely lost sight of my spirit and, more importantly, my common sense. Even if The City Theatre had put on an awful production, I would still give the play five stars just because it was one of those experiences that helped me take a step back and breathe- it was one of those moments that helped me appreciate the infinite possibilities of life.

Though there were particular moments that stand out in my head- when Alice asked the Caterpillar where to go- the duet between the Cook and the Duchess was one of my favorite scenes. They reminded me of what I really want from my experience at UT.

It’s a weird connection, but stay with me.

Their song was about growing older, appreciating the potential of your youth. However, I feel like the entire time I’ve been here, I’ve taking my potential for granted. I’ve been so lost in my financial, academic, and social stresses that I’ve forgotten what “life” really means to b e. It’s not to have some big shot career, it’s not about makeing 8 figures, it’s just about living- to know the very essence of my existence, to know love and truth in it’s purest and most passionate forms.

I know this is a very unconventional review, but I swear it originally had a lot more structure (I deleted the first half so it wouldn’t be so long). However, I am submitting this as my “formal” review of Alice in Wonderland, because I think the feeling behind the experience is really a lot more important than the actual aesthetics of the experience.


It was a FANTASTIC play, and you really don’t want me to say what you already know.