philly03 reviews WONDERLAND!

[philly03]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 5:20pm

LONG REVIEW! Oops!

Finally got to see Wonderland this past Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I have to admit after all the changes I've heard/seen in the show/casting/pictures/concept CD, my hopes were pretty low. However, it's incredible (as most of you were expecting). It's very different than I expected, and do NOT judge base off the concept recording. Only a select couple of songs appear the same way they do.

First of all, while Murphy's lyrics are still..not good, he's changed a lot of the major problems from the concept album.


ACTORS / ACTRESSes:

Janet Dacal as Alice is good. Still not convinced she's the best singer / actress to pick, but she certainly isn't the worse. She has a spunky attitude that's needed for this Alice. I think she lacks star power, which maybe she'll gain as the show continues. It's a tough deal to have atleast two songs where you are virtually the ONLY thing onstage. Found myself looking around at the show's finale "Finding Wonderland." The real star is DARREN RITCHIE, as the White Knight. Loveable and laughable, he's a huge asset to the show. Loved him in DRACULA, the musical as well, but who knew he had it in him to command a show.

Nikki Snelson is the other full standout in the production. Even in the ensemble number "Welcome to Wonderland," where everyone is wearing the same costume/wig, you can spot out Snelson. Perhaps the best part of her performance comes without her even singing, but rather during the Chess game. So many quick little quirps and jokes thrown on her part make her one of the best to watch.

Julie Brooks as the small daughter Chloe is wonderful. Does she look 10-ish or however young she's supposed to be? NOT AT ALL. Whatever, talent is talent. Her voice passes as young luckily. Saw her understudy whose name I'm lacking...I'm sure the girl was nervous, but she was no where near the talent of Brooks, but looked more like a 10 y/o!

Karen Mason does her best and is shockingly funny in her delivery. Same goes for Tad WIlson, as the Jabberwocky who I feared would be too over the top. Jose Llana (Cheshire Cat/ El Gato) does as best as he can with his material, as does Tommar Wilson as the Caterpillar. Their parts are smaller, but still essential to the story. Another surprise performance was by the Rabbit, Edward Staudenmayer. VERY funny, and very good.



SHOW ITSELF:



Some complaints: Overall Act 1 is too long. The opening, "Worst Day of My Life" is either two of three verses spread out over 10 minutes. There's another song interjected in there as well, and I understand they want to establish the double-personalities, but..it's lengthy.

The main complaint about length comes between "The Mad Hatter" and "Once More I Can See." After the Mad Hatter's song, there is a long gap of dialogue until the next song. While dialogue can be crucial, it takes a lot of time. By the time Alice starts singing "Once More I Can See" (which has nearly a full-out lyric change and finally makes sense where they ended up putting it in the show - I believe the versions recorded by Dacal and Brandi Burkhardt were meant to be the finale!), the action is slow. After talking to a lot of people, they complained Act 1 is boring. "Love Begins" in Act 2 does something similar - all the music is so jumpy and catchy, and then they place these little ballads in there...

Good news is the Cheshire Cat's Song / Go With the Flow is chopped up a bit more and isn't how it is on the recording. It goes into the audience's ears MUCH easier than before, no worries.

"One Knight" is the funniest moment of the night. I know, I know I had my concerns about them going overboard with the all boy-band number thing, but Darren Ritchie and his back up singers have the song and dance down perfectly. I know it sounds stupid on paper, but if you saw it in person, you'd be laughing with the rest of the theatre.

Strongest parts of the score in context with the show: "Through the Looking Glass," "Nick of Time," "Mad Hatter Song," "Off with their Heads!" and "Finding Wonderland."

Weak LYRICS: "Home" (nice melody though!), and a few bits of lyrics in "Don't Wanna Fall in Love Again" ("The fights before the make-up sex!" comes to mind immediately. If this is a family show Jack..why?).

There is a pretty little song called "I Am My Own Invention," but it comes out of nowhere and is sung by the character of Lewis Carol (shockingly, Ritchie again). Off-topic, but Ritchie is horrible walking with a cane, and Dacal could be worse with the axe and cutting the chords off the prisoners, but I'm not sure how!

Set design is good - the projections are mostly funny (atleast I hope!) than serious, going through the looking glass looks cool! Costumes are fantastic. Choreography is similarly very good, especially in "Don't Wanna Fall in Love Again" and "one Knight" with the boy band! Snelson's songs all have her backup girl-troupers with her and she's always moving. Likewise, all great dancing.

I'd definitely have to recommend this show. ..Because Florida audiences gave us a great heads up with Tale of Two Cities saying it'll be a big hit, and many of the Tampa-natives I talked to who saw it saying this is ready for a Broadway and will be a huge hit...I'll hold my tongue. I think Frank has great material on his hands, I could see some changes being implemented, but hopefully he doesn't mess with this one too much.


Updated On: 12/31/09 at 05:20 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 7:25pm

I am so glad you didn't hate it!! :)


I was actually there this week Tue and Wed too, third and fourth visits to Wonderland after seeing it twice back in previews, and I still enjoy it so...

Nikki Snelson is the other full standout in the production. Even in the ensemble number "Welcome to Wonderland," where everyone is wearing the same costume/wig, you can spot out Snelson.

I love the way that the characters' solo lyrics during Welcome to Wonderland match up with their non-Alice dress wearing selves, ie how Hatter!Alice (I don't know how else to describe this part), is the one to sing "rumours of a palace coup," Queen!Alice with "we don't think at all..." etc.

Unless I'm totally reading something into nothing insofar as who sings what here goes. Also possible.


"One Knight" is the funniest moment of the night. I know, I know I had my concerns about them going overboard with the all boy-band number thing, but Darren Ritchie and his back up singers have the song and dance down perfectly. I know it sounds stupid on paper, but if you saw it in person, you'd be laughing with the rest of the theatre.

Did you find Wed night's One Knight to be even more hilarious than Tuesday's? The crowd was *really* into that number on Wed night (I'd never heard it get mid-song applause like that, let alone several points of mid-song applause). I always find that number funny, but Wednesday night was easily my favorite out of all the times I've seen it.


Julie Brooks as the small daughter Chloe is wonderful. Does she look 10-ish or however young she's supposed to be? NOT AT ALL. Whatever, talent is talent. Her voice passes as young luckily. Saw her understudy whose name I'm lacking...I'm sure the girl was nervous, but she was no where near the talent of Brooks, but looked more like a 10 y/o!

Mallauri Esquibel (who is usually the I Am My Own Invention ballet girl- speaking of, I actually LOVE this number, and her gorgeous dancing here is always a big part of that love. Plus I'm a sap for the lyrics. But anyway...) was on as the Chloe u/s on Wed night. And I would disagree on the looks question, though- I think Brooks totally reads younger onstage (agreed, not 10ish, but younger) than Esquibel does. But I also thought Esquibel resembled Dacal more than Brooks does, so I was ok with Chloe being a teenager, hee.

There actually weren't a lot of changes between what I remember from previews and what I saw this week- some cut/tweaked lines, changes in delivery (Dacal's more... angry? ...in some parts (ie: "somebody shoot me" in the opening number, the "not belligerent, emphatic," bits, etc.) than I remember her being in previews- I like it.), but no new songs or anything.

Oh- I did LOVE this change to the ending: back in previews everything wrapped up after the match/before Finding Wonderland with Alice and Jack were having the same dream? Or something like that. And Jack saying something about "having to go home and unsign divorce papers." Just in case you *really* didn't get the point that they get back together and live happily ever after. I love that now there's no Jack having the same dream, there's no unsigning papers line, it's just Alice had the dream, Finding Wonderland, and the door closes on Alice/Jack/Chloe, the end.

And I love that Dacal now gets the last bow solo.


Updated On: 1/1/10 at 07:25 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 12/31/09 at 7:29pm

"Did you find Wed night's One Knight to be even more hilarious than Tuesday's? The crowd was *really* into that number on Wed night (I'd never heard it get mid-song applause like that, let alone several points of mid-song applause). I always find that number funny, but Wednesday night was easily my favorite out of all the times I've seen it. "

Actually yes - MUCH more louder and into it than Tuesday's anyway! Legitimately noticed it!

The old ending sounds dumb..hmm.

I personally think the Hatter, White Knight and Alice should all get their own bows!

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:10pm

This all sounds positive. As far as the part of Chloe is concerned......I think it might be beneficial to get an actually kid. It would be more believable and probably draw the audience in more to the story.
I hear the cast is gearing up for some good changes when they get to Houston. Could see this show going through one more incarnation after Houston at some point and coming to New York fall 2010 or spring 2011.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:17pm

I agree. My thought is, horribly, they are trying to save Money by employing an 18 y/o or however old Julie Brooks is then have to double cast two little girls. I would imagine they'll let Brooks premiere the role on Broadway (whose been with the project for years now!) and then when she leaves replace her with an actual 10 y/o-ish girl!

The timeline would fit perfectly for a Broadway transfer this season with previews beginning early March, but who knows. I really really loved it, but I pretty much love everything Frank has done (oh surprise!). However with Frank and Gregory, I don't see why they wouldn't keep expanding the project!

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:30pm

Well, word is they had producers wanting to rush it to NY. The creatives however felt it needed more work and more time and want to get it right - smart decision in my opinion.
No offense to Julie Brooks (I think she does well in the show), the part of Chloe really should be a child. And if the creative team/producers think the same, they'll correct it before it goes to NY. The fact that Brooks has been a part of it since the beginning will have no bearing on the decision.

[zunit1234]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:36pm

Thanks Philly for the in depth review! This seem seems interesting. I'd see it should it come to New York.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:07pm

"Well, word is they had producers wanting to rush it to NY. The creatives however felt it needed more work and more time and want to get it right - smart decision in my opinion.
No offense to Julie Brooks (I think she does well in the show), the part of Chloe really should be a child. And if the creative team/producers think the same, they'll correct it before it goes to NY. The fact that Brooks has been a part of it since the beginning will have no bearing on the decision."

See I think Brooks (unlike in the production photos) looks young enough and she looks super short on stage on top of it, so it could work.

I don't see why they don't rush it to NYC after Houston. Fits in perfect to open just like J&H was supposed to, but I fear they want to mimic that entire creative process and come next spring. I think if they open it in conjuncture with the Tim Burton film it will benefit - it could backfire and get negative word of mouth, but it will draw interest!

[Soliantu]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:26pm

"let's hope frank doesnt mess with this one too much"....

haha, that's always difficult for him! I didn't get a chance to go down and check it out, but from what I hear from friends and from you, sounds like it's much better than it looked like it would be..

[Anakela]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 8:03pm

See I think Brooks (unlike in the production photos) looks young enough and she looks super short on stage on top of it, so it could work.

This. The first time I saw Wonderland I legit thought Brooks was about 14, and playing just a little younger. Then when I was reading the CenterBill during intermission I realized that hers was an adult's bio.

The old ending sounds dumb..hmm.

I personally think the Hatter, White Knight and Alice should all get their own bows!

See, Hatter, Jack and Alice shared the last bow during previews; the three came out together. And I thought back then that Dacal should bow solo last. So Hatter bowing with Jack now doesn't bother me that much, but I could see them each getting their own bows too.

Yeah, the Jack sharing Alice's dream at the end bit was a very "wait... what?" moment the first time I saw it. Think it works so much better with that being cut.

I hear the cast is gearing up for some good changes when they get to Houston. Could see this show going through one more incarnation after Houston at some point and coming to New York fall 2010 or spring 2011.

That would be cool.

ok, random general question time: how is Houston also being billed as the "world premiere" of Wonderland? Can two cities be the world premiere of the same show? If there are enough changes between Tampa and Houston, is that why Houston's also a world premiere? (The Alley Theatre website and commercial both have "world premiere" on them, is where this is coming from.)

[romgitsean]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 8:26pm

Thanks for that, Philly.

I'm sure it's not all bad, but still, just the fact that they're crazy combining Looking-Glass Land and Wonderland like crazy, I just feel like they're really missing the plot.

Whoever made the Florida comment-of course Florida audiences will be gentler. They don't KNOW any better. That's why it's a bad idea to do try-outs in the south. Trust me, I live there.

I don't know what they'll need to do to make this truly work. It sounds like this is kind of like a Lestat--there are aspects that work, but overall, there is so much room for improvement.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 7:41pm

Looks like WONDERLAND won't be going to Broadway this season, or atleast not with Dacal in the lead. Apparently she'll be re-joining the cast of IN THE HEIGHTS following the Alley run of Wonderland.

I think she's doing Havana too. I know Jill Paice did a few things with Havana, but it's a Cuban-American story, this would seem to make sense. Wouldn't it be funny if Paice ended up in Wonderland?!


A shame, such a weak season, Frank may have to able to snag some Tonys for once !

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 7:47pm

I heard that Janet is replacing Mandy in February. Does anyone know if that is true?

[philly03]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 8:04pm

I;ve never read this blog before, but someone forwarded this to me:

http://broadwaygirlnyc.blogspot.com/2010/01/exclusive-janet-dacal-returns-to-in.html

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 8:12pm

Yeah, that is the blog that I saw too. I would love to see her in the role.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 8:14pm

Lol I'd love to have seen Wonderland come to Broadway this Spring!

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 3:01am

Wow! Nice review, philly! I also hope it comes to Broadway...let's see. Is it going anywhere else for now...?

[philly03]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 3:24am

Already declared as "Version 1.5" (I'm sure in the spirit of the Scarlet Pimpernel!), it will be in Houston from January 15 through February 14. Decisions have not been made whether it will tour, head for Broadway or sit like a lame duck for years to come!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 5:29am

Unless plans were in the works NOW, time-wise wouldn't it be near impossible to get this ON Bway before the Tony cut off?

Just asking.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/6/10 at 12:27pm

The Houston run ends on February 14th. Looks like they need about two weeks to do a quick transfer. I would imagine they'd put in an elevator on the stage, and then lay some tracks down for some other scenery (which I remember being noisy - sometimes as loud as Tale of Two Cities). I think it'd be entirely possible to get to B'way by the very end of March/beginning of April, and depending how long they want to preview (which if it's already making changes in Houston and theyre successful) it could open after only a few previews.

There's rumored to be more producers in the works who want to take it this season, other than the one(s) they have now. Don't know how true this is!

Posted: 1/6/10 at 1:29pm

I went to see Wonderland on 12/26 in Tampa. It is certainly NOT ready for Broadway.

While the concept is very promising, the show falls a little flat. The cast is great (Janet Decal makes for a good leading lady), the set/tech was fantastic, the choreography was good, the score is ok, but the book was an absolute mess. (Spoiler?) The worst offender of the book was the god awful chess battle in the end. The fact that Alice and the Mad Hatter were fighting with what looked like pool cleaner sticks, the rabbit pretending to be dead, and the poor excuse for the end of the battle ("Game over" Really?!) made me feel embarrassed just watching it. Why not have a battle of wits?


There's definitely something there in Wonderland. There are lots of things that work. But there's a lot more kinks to iron out.

(BTW, I have to admit that the song "One Knight" had me laughing hysterically. Good times!)

As another side note, I hope Wonderland was just the start of new works premiering in Tampa. The Straz Center is such a fabulous venue.

[Anakela]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 12:17am

So excited for Janet rumours, but man this month is just going to be spent waiting for official casting announcements...


Random: are any of you following any of the Wonderland cast/creatives on Twitter? I'm kind of in love with Tad Wilson's Twitter, which led me to Tommar Wilson's, and Wonderlandcast, wondering if there's anyone else I should be following.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 1:30am

I'm guessing Wonderland won't be here for a long while. Apparently Havana's producers are pretty set on Broadway following Pasadena, and I'd find it hard to believe that Frank Wildhorn & Co. of all people would have his musicals compete not only against each other, but Phantom 2, most likely Catch Me If You Can, maybe Rebecca and the other musicals of next season!

Unless they are replacing Dacal, who sounds like she's attached to Havana, and Wonderland was a way to keep her tied up! We shall see...

Re: Twitter; I follow Tad Wilson, TBPAC/Straaz Center and WonderlandCast. Darren Ritchie used to have one as well, but not anymore!

[philly03]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 3:39am

This i slightly off topic, but other than Lauren Kennedy I would kill to see Coleen Sexton tackle the role of Alice!!!

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/7/10 at 10:31pm

From what I've heard, the book has been reworked quite a bit for the Houston run and changes are being rehearsed now. Word is the show will have another engagement (early fall maybe) where more changes and hopefully improvements will take place. This will probably serve as their pre-Broadway with a NY opening anywhere from fall/winter 2010 - spring 2011.
Whether Janet will be involved, or any of the other cast members for that matter, is anyones guess. With that much time between productions, it's as much up to the performers as it is to the producers on who will continue with the show.