Lynn Belvedere

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET @ The Capitol Theatre

In 2011 Christopher Wheeldon created sustained narrative with ongoing character development, with his new classic ballet “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” a full-length work in three acts, for the Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House in Bow Street, Covent Garden, London. I am forever grateful that The Australian Ballet has carefully re-created this amazing fast-paced spectacular ballet, using the best of the best Australian ballet dancers and some guest artists, and is now available for Sydney audiences for a very limited time, after first being seen by Melbourne audiences.

This is the must see ballet this decade, so much better to experience live on stage, rather than watching The Royal Ballet September 2011 dvd version.

Brilliant family friendly ballet entertainment, has been adapted from Lewis Carroll’s childrens’ book. Christopher Wheeldon‘s always inventive and breathtaking choreography created for each famous character, is meticulously and gracefully combined with colour co-ordinated eclectic costumes by Bob Crowley, together with captivating colourful set designs also by Bob Crowley, all are a standout, and the famous plot has been blended with a memorable and thought provoking music score by Joby Talbot that contributes resonant depth to each well-remembered character. Banks of moving spots are used to create everything from black/white checker board flooring through to swimming in an ocean of tears.

Fully animated 4K high definition, bright video projection delivered the immediate ability to suspend disbelief, as Alice is seen to tumble and to fall down the rabbit hole, and provides the “drink me” Alice shrinking experience and then the “eat me” Alice expanding sequence, complete with the changing sizes of the wall of doors of the room that she tries to escape from. Gigantic Alice trapped in an ultra-tiny room, is a magnifient magicial delight, with its delicious false perspective.

The Red Queen of Hearts is extremely tall, and later becomes extremely tall and wider, soon heralding the sudden and unexpected appearance of the Red King of Hearts. The Red Queen soon delivered howls of laughter from the children in the first night audience, so many wonderful things happen, and always suitable for all ages.

The captivating performance delivered by the tap-dancing Mad Hatter, drew applause from the well entertained audience. The full sized Cheshire Cat easily generated oohhs and aahhs from all, as did the brilliant full sized Caterpillar.

This Australian Ballet production, again and again, has absolutely perfect mises-en-scène optimally visualised for each and every complex scene, where the combination of choosing the perfect cast for each role, and every element of the set design and costumes and music soundtrack, have joined together to create a unique and very original ballet experience. Highly recommended.

Conductor: Nicolette Fraillon
Alice: Ako Kondo
Jack/The Knave of Hearts: Ty King-Wall
Lewis Carroll/The White Rabbit: Adam Bull
Mother/Queen of Hearts: Amy Harris
Father/King of Hearts: Steven Heathcote (Guest Artist)
Magician/Mad Hatter: Kevin Jackson
Raj/Caterpillar: Jarryd Madden
Duchess: Ben Davis
Wonderland Characters: Artists of The Australian Ballet and supernumeries.
Choreography Christopher Wheeldon
Music Joby Talbot orchestrated by Christopher Austin and Joby Talbot
 Scenario Nicholas Wright
 Set and costume design Bob Crowley
 Lighting design Natasha Katz
 Animated Projection designs Jon Driscoll and Gemma Carrington
 Puppet concept and design Toby Olié
 Magic consultant Paul Kieve
 With Opera Australia Orchestra in Sydney
 With Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne
Congratulations to Valerie Tereshchenko, who just received the 2017 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award, and also to Jake Mangakahia, who took out the People’s Choice Award. 
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland© was commissioned and first performed by The Royal Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland© is a co-production of The Australian Ballet and The National Ballet of Japan.
The Kenneth R Reed Fund generously supports the re-creation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland© for The Australian Ballet.

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND is playing 5-22 December 2017 at The Capitol Theatre, Haymarket, Sydney.

https://australianballet.com.au/the-ballets/alices-adventures-in-wonderland – – –

https://australianballet.com.au/the-ballets/alices-adventures-in-wonderland/#buy-tickets/2305 – – –

Photography by Johan Persson. All images depict the Artists of The Royal Ballet in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland©. © ROH, 2013.

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -