Photos by Chris Edwards

Alice in Wonderland

Based on the novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
Adapted by Eva Le Gallienne and Florida Friebus
Directed by Natalie Young
Associate Directed by Katie Ibrahim
Produced by Shakespeare Dallas

Audience Rating: G
Running Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable
Audio Visuals To Prepare For: Fog machine at very beginning and Strobe lights at the conclusion

Reviewed by Dan C. Rogers

Alice in Wonderland is absurdly entertaining. The songs, choreography, dance, costumes, rapid and zany wit, fantastical characters, audience involvement and overall energetic presentation is a statement of literary imagination and bizarre fun.

Director Natalie Young utilizes all the entrances and exits possible with doors, arches, and causeways on the paste- tinged set designed by Uldarico Sarmiento at the Samuel Grand Amphitheatre. Prancing and moving across a chessboard of pastel blue and cream is a company of creative and charismatic actors. Alice as played by Lily Gast, in an eye-catching striped dress, alternates between bewilderment and curiosity with a charm of believability. She grows and shrinks with the assistance of music from Director Composer Ferando Hernandez and lighting from Lori Honeycut, plus the clever movement directed by Dr. Daniele Georgiou.

A bevy of talented and energetic actors and actresses embody all the absurd situations, nonsensical logic, and bizarre, anthropomorphic creatures in this Wonderland of unpredictability. The White Rabbit, so frantic and graceful by Kristen Lazarchick leads the bewildered Alice to and from encounters with the Jabberwocky as sung by Kalumbu D. Tsibngu with a stage presence that emulates the great Geoffrey Holder. From there she goes to the Cheshire Cat with wit and ‘fan’tastic (yes that is a pun concerning her smile) cleverness from Liz Magallanes. And of course, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum sing and dance with crowd pleasing gusto from the multi-talented Matty and Logan Rafanelli. We must note Humpty Dumpty never falls but Jeff Garlish certainly sings a tale of woe.

In addition to a bizarre game of croquet, with the flamingo mallets sending cast members out into the audience in fast paced and hilarious silliness, Alice must contend with the muscular King of Hearts in Brandon Wetch and the ‘off-with-their-heads” Queen of Hearts as performed by the dominating David Helms and the guidance of the White Queen in the elegant presence of Elizabeth Evans. Our Alice takes a fantastical experience of clever entertaining wild wacky roundly weird romp wandering and wondering at the world of what-if and why not. It is a clever campy cacophony of color and comedy suitable for the entire family.

Take your lawn chairs and make a picnic of the performance. Alice runs through July 17. It is pure fun, absurd and kid friendly. The Samuel Grand Amphitheatre encourages a casual outdoor comfortable atmosphere of art and amazing appreciation for this Lewis Carroll classic. It is an experience to be enjoyed by all, whether a grown-up adult or the sort of small.

Curtain is at 8:30 with mosquitoes sometimes present so be prepared to slap and clap as is your bent. Laugh and emote, cheer as is your wont. Have a good time, make note of this rhyme. Alice in Wonderland is absolutely, utterly, completely sublime. It’s silly and fun, irreverent, and filled with puns, enjoy the atmosphere, be prepared to cheer and have a good time. You should know the wackiness has no border. Tickets can be found at shakespearedallas.ticketspice.com/shakespeare-dallas-2026-season

Alice in Wonderland is just what the doctor ordered.

DR.