Wonderland for Young and Old

Cambrian Players Presents Alice in Wonderland

After pirates in Treasure Island and a Chekovobsessed family in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Cambrian Players will close their 2021-2022 season with a meaningful take on Alice in Wonderland.

After seeing Thunder Bay’s virtual theatre organization Come Play with Me perform the classic tale in 2020, director Thomas McDonald got inspired to bring Wonderland to the stage with a twist. “I was not interested in doing the same version with a 12-year-old girl going on an adventure,” says McDonald. “I wondered what it would be like if the person on the journey was a senior instead? What would change, stay the same, or mean something entirely different?”

With that vision in mind, McDonald assembled 23 talented local actors from ages 8 to 70 to bring this iconic story to life, with some roles even being double cast. Though clad as iconic characters such as the Red Queen, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter, these characters also become memories of people Alice (played by Hilke Grunys) has either lost, forgotten, or wishes were there to help her when things don’t feel right.

“Alice is not remembering as well as she used to,” says Grunys. “There is something going on with Alice and her aging process where she is a little confused. But she also has these moments of inner strength where she stands up for herself. I find her quite delightful.”

Much like the original story, in which Alice finds a community of many things from talking animals to extravagant tea parties to living and breathing playing cards, McDonald and Grunys both value the idea of community this show brings on and off the stage. “I hope audiences look at Alice, have empathy for her in a different way, and think about our own seniors, who have been very isolated for the last couple of years in a different way,” says McDonald. Grunys adds she cannot wait for audiences to be amazed by the connectedness between actors, puppets, and music in this production, and maybe recognize people in their own lives who are going through what Alice is going through.

As Wonderland is beyond a world of our own, this production will reach beyond the stage with a special live-streamed performance on May 28, where you can have the opportunity to follow Alice to Wonderland from your very own home.

Alice in Wonderland runs from May 18 to 21 and May 25 to 29 at Cambrian Players (818 Spring Street). Purchase tickets online at cambrianplayers.eventbrite. ca. For more information, find Cambrian Players on Facebook and Instagram @cambrianplayers, or visit cambrianplayers.com.