As a big fan of this (relatively) new musical, I was thrilled to see Scona Theatre Co. finally get their hands on this playful script paired with a truly radiant score. Written by the same duo that brought us the musical Spring Awakening, the contemporary sound and intricate harmonies are simply delicious to the ear.

Set in 1941 after the London Blitz, an English teenager (also named Alice) takes shelter in a makeshift tube station medical clinic with her friend Alfred who is failing from tuberculosis. In his final hours, just as their love is about to bloom, they leave the chaos of war behind and escape into their favourite book one last time. But instead of finding relief, the pair are instead confronted with trauma, grief, and the disruptive feelings of first love that could turn anyone’s world upside-down.

The entire cast shone, everyone had a standout moment or more, and the sense of ensemble/ community on stage was beautifully palpable. I thought the young, school-age cast inhabited their roles with such depth and respect – bringing new light all of the familiar Wonderland characters that we know and love – only now in a unique and unusual context.

There were a couple of instances where the sound mix drowned out the lead vocals and I had a difficult time understanding what the actors were saying, but the physical storytelling was very helpful in filling in those gaps.

DON’T BE LATE! Catch this rare staging before it is gone!