This was an open-air promenade production of a devised script loosely based on Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and presented by Z-Arts Young Performers Group.
The Young Performers (ZYP) is a youth-lead group of like-minded youths aged between 11 and 16 who meet once a week at Z-Arts in Hulme to pool their creative resources and with a focus and bias upon performance, they work towards one main production each year. This Alice project though, I am lead to believe, was separate from the norm, and was a two week summer course from the 25th July culminating in three performances today of the fruits of their labours.
As we waited at the entrance to the performance area we were 'entertained' by a couple of crazy Blues Brothers-type bouncers, (Asha Joseph and Monty Gorman) who guided us through the narrow walkways and tree arches that formed the garden centre's arena. Along the way we met a White Rabbit, (Joseph Aldred) who was very late for a very important date; Absalom (Max Magee) who appeared to have modelled himself on a famous Gansta Rapper; A very mad and theatrical Mad Hattter (Carmen King); two more rappers working very well together as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (Oscar Gorman and Danny Harrison); a very old and evil Queen Of Hearts (Susan Al-Malahi); and not one but three cats - not the Cheshire variety either - these were rather cool and hip cats all in black with a French beret!
It was into this heady mix that the two children Alice (Sara Nadvi-Byrne) and Brian (James Hoyland) found themselves (after falling down a hole). We followed them through their escapades which every time ended with some kind of contest to see who was the better - usually a rap, and then there was a chase through to the next location. Or on one occasion a group lead conga!
Finally of course Alice wins - by Girl Power! - And the Queen of Hearts is forgiven and all ends happily ever after with yet another improvised conga to finish!
The cleverest touch to the whole event was that it was humorously and ingeniously sponsored throughout by Drink Me! We were all given a small bottle of the potion at the start and two girls kept popping up in every scene advertising their product! Genius! (Ivy Magee and Rachel Fleming).
The performance lasted just over thirty minutes, and was a huge testament to the youngsters who have spent the last two weeks learning new skills and devising this entertainment. All props and costumes I assume were made during this fortnight too, and directed by Jana Kennedy it was a fun and modern take on a very traditional story which appealed to young and old alike. Congratulations to all!
If I might make just one suggestion, then I would have liked to have seen the audience included a little more than they were. We were given hats but not explained why and were never used as part of the story; the Drink Me potion was a great idea, but we were not asked to drink it. Why not make this part of the show and have us drink the potion before continuing or something similar? I loved the conga idea and asking us all to dance for the finale, but it all came just that little too late for me. Also, one or two of the cast needed to speak a little louder too.
The outdoor location worked well, creating an alien environment for the two who find themselves in this mad and crazy world, but even with the audience number limitation we were still extremely squashed at each location.
Reviewer: Mark Dee
Reviewed: 6th August 2016
