Alice in Wonder

by V. Glasgow Koste

Adapation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass."

11 or more characters, flexible production style. 60 minutes. Ages 6 and up. $ 6.50

Virginia Koste speaks of "adopting" classics, not adapting them. And one of her favorite adopted children is Alice in Wonder, a theatrically exciting play faithful to Lewis Carroll's wit and wisdom. True to the meanings of the original Carroll masterpiece, Koste focuses on the wonder of sorting out sense/nonsense--in the surreal dream of falling; the sphynxy Cat; the mad Duchess; the Tweedles "mirroring" the folly of war; the the infinite-social-circling tea party; the White Knight (Carroll himself?) dream-inventing Alice "as I go along;" the wildly expressionistic croquet game; the clamactic Kafkaesque trial scene.

Like the book, Alice in Wonder ends on a hopeful note of tranquil wonder at the mysterious yet reassuring possibilities of the human mind. It will bring children to the theatre and lead them back to the library.