"It's a madhouse Monday morning on the Riverbank Estate," sings the on-stage band by means of introduction to this spirited and decidedly 21st century take on Lewis Carroll. Thirteen-year-old Alice lives in a cramped flat with dropout siblings and a harassed single mum, so it is no wonder that tailing a life-sized white rabbit underground to the Underground appears a fine idea.
Carroll's already surreal story is seen through a looking glass darkly by co-writers Chris Bond and Paula Rees, who capture well the juxtaposition of physical proximity and emotional alienation that Tube travellers experience. The sweet-natured ingénue encounters a series of bizarre, sometimes threatening characters on her quest to find the love she lacks at home: Sister Dee advocates "a change to the Jesus line", the White Rabbit is revealed to be a mute body popper with a drug habit and the Queen's catchphrase "Off with her head" now refers to the pleasures of illegal narcotics.
Jo Collins and David Carey employ an impressively eclectic range of musical styles for the 25 songs, which include some attractive repeated riffs and phrases for continuity. The fact that this piece is virtually all through-sung does, however, place a large storytelling burden on the lyrics. A little more narrative or dialogue would have helped to bind the episodic scenes and bolster the over-simplistic tone.
This co-production, directed by Bond, between the Queen's and the inclusive professional Chicken Shed Theatre, is a fruitful one, with the engaging Down's syndrome actress Emma Cambridge playing Alice and singing along with the Hornchurch venue's resident company of actormusicians. Emily Gardner excels in her multiple roles and Liz Kitchen and Philip Reed move seamlessly between their instruments and scene-stealing cameos as Alice's nervous elderly neighbours.
Follow the nearest large white rodent down the District line to catch this.
Until 18 September. Information: 01708 443333.
Alice On The Underground
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