“Lookingglass Alice”

[rating=5] Over the years, I have seen several incarnations of the brilliant “theater art” production of “Lookingglass Alice”, adapted from the works of Lewis Carroll by David Catlin, who is also the director, with of course some assistance from the folks at Actors Gymnasium in Evanston. This is of course, a story about young Alice and the author a/k/a Mr. Dodgson ( in this afternoon’s performance, the role of Dodgson and The White Knight were played by Micah Figeroa instead of Samuel Taylor).. What is neat about this production is that the theater is divided into two sections, sort of split in half and as you go to your seats, it appears that the stage area is tiny. We see a black curtain as a wall, but in the middle, over a fireplace is a mirror. As you sit and gaze at the mirror, you will find that rather than a reflection of your side’s audience, you are viewing the people on the other side of the Lookingglass ( another name for a mirror).

When the play begins, some of us meet Mr. Dodgon and the others meet Alice ( I watched Molly Hernandez who alternates with Lindsey Noel Whiting). Knowing what it takes to perform this role, and seeing the energy and talent of Ms. Hernandez, I am sure that Ms Whiting is her equal. Lookingglass is a special company when it comes to physical performance. Of course having Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi designing the circus acts and movements sure helps. She comes form a long line of circus performers and it shows.

I cannot do justice to a full description of this amazing piece of entertainment that lasts for 94 minutes ( no intermission). Yes, 94 minutes, not 92, not 95, but 94 extraordinary minutes of story telling that will take you deeper down the rabbit hole than you ever thought one could go. The ensemble has changed over the years, but Lookingglass always seems to find the right people to fill the voids of one cast member or another leaving the show.

While you might think there is a cast of many, you will be amazed to learn that the ensemble consists of the following:

Cheshire Cat is played to perfection by Adeoye ( also an ensemble member doing other characters such as one of the Tweedles), Michael Rodriguez Cintra as the White Rabbit and the other Tweedle, Kareem Bandealy as The Red Queen and The Mad Hatter and many more characters, and last but not least, The White Knight and the White King and Dodgson by Micah Figueroa, filling in for Samuel Taylor.

All of these men are not just actors, they are performers with energy to spare as they change costumes and characters in a minute and are back on stage to capture our spirits and minds with the amazing tales we are being told.

What we see on the stage at Lookingglass could never be accomplished without a very talented stage crew to make sure that each of the circus tricks is perfect, that the costume changes are in place for every quick change and that every prop is in the right place at the right time. This is a precision piece that is done to perfection by this glorious staff which the cast truly acknowledges during the curtain call.

The costumes by Mara Blumenfeld are sensational as well as outrageous ( I loved them)! Christine A. Binders lighting was perfect as was the sound (Ray Nardelli). As I mentioned earlier, the Circus Movement design was by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi and the riggings were handled by Lee Brasuell. The original music was composed by Andre Pluess and Ben Collins-Sussman and the stage management was under the control of Jaci Entwisle.

There are a lot of people involved to make a show like this a memorable experience and this crew of dedicated artists truly were anxious to bring back live theater and live performance art- they have done so. Alice will experience changes and disorientation on her trip down the rabbit hole. The beautiful part of this show is that you can experience the thrills, the laughter, the elegance, the storytelling in less than two hours, and will have a memory of that experience for years to come.

“Lookingglass Alice” will continue at Lookingglass Theatre located  at 821 N. Michigan Avenue ( in the original Water Tower) thru July 31st with performances as follows:

Wednesdays   6:30 p.m.

Thursdays  1:30 p.m.  and 7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  2 p.m.  and 7:30 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, 5/24 and 6/7, 6/21 and 7/5th  7 p.m.              NO PERFORMANCE on Memorial Day and July 4th

Tickets available by calling 312-337-0665 or by visiting www.lookingglasstheatre.org

Covid rules do apply- Vac card and Id to enter, mask  on for entire performance. No eating or drinking in the theater itself.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Lookingglass Alice”.

Suggested for children from 5 and up ( to at least 79)