Alice in Wonderland
at JSerra Catholic

Reviewed on January 31, 2020

Cameron Newman
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

We're all mad for JSerra's Alice in Wonderland
written by Cameron Newman, a senior at San Juan Hills High School

Confined to a hospital, a young girl, bored of her bland reality, is offered the chance of a lifetime. She's quick to accept, but there's one small catch...

In this faustian twist on the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice, a mental patient, scours Wonderland for her heart, unwittingly traded to the enigmatic Cheshire Cat. Through her encounters with the insane, nonsensical, and just-plain-peculiar, she learns to appreciate real life and conquer her inner demons.

Abigail Cox grounds the show as obstinate Alice. Shallow and self-absorbed, she stubbornly stamps her feet when scolded by her parents, dismissing their concerns with a defensive pout. However, when dealing with the wacky workings of Wonderland, she adopts a more modest demeanor, softening her tone and straightening her spine. Her strength returns later, but with a mature sense of refinement she previously lacked.

Zoe Strickland captivates as the crooked Cheshire Cat. Methodical, mischievous, and a tad malicious, Strickland's Cat commands the room as she flounces with feline grace. Effortlessly transforming from devious and cajoling to debonair and calculating, her derangement remains frighteningly constant. Strickland shows a different side as the maniacal Mad Hatter, unhinged as she strains against her straight jacket. Though seemingly separate, the Hatter's occasional flashes of the characteristic Cheshire grin leave one wondering if the two are really the same.

Noah Herrera provides comedic relief in the dual roles of Caterpillar and White Knight. As the Caterpillar, he is suave and sanctimonious, scorning Alice for her stupidity. As the knight, he tromps about overzealously, navigating the checkered floor in the L-shaped movements of a chess piece. Rachael Patin shows spectacular range as the Dormouse and the Red Queen: in one scene, she's meek and unfocused, mumbling dreamily about treacle. In the next, she's domineering and erratic, screaming her head off while proclaiming "off with their heads".

Technical elements bring to life the psychedelic Wonderland. Angelique Brown's lighting employs subtle but persistent color shifts to imbue Wonderland with an unsettling aura. This effect is furthered by Kayden Kutchins' and Rachael Patin's set, which features a raked checkerboard stage and walls covered in tally marks, twisting arrows, and paint splatters that make each scene feel physically off-kilter. Austin Asher's sound completes the chaos, with otherworldly echoes from Alice's reality reverberating ominously.

JSerra's Alice in Wonderland is a wacky and wonderful interpretation of a timeless tale.

Samantha Melanson
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Time for terrific tea at JSerra Catholic's "Alice in Wonderland"
written by Samantha Melanson, a senior at Tesoro High School

A devious game, a rambunctious tea party, and a raging queen all weave their way into Alice's astonishing journey through the whimsical Wonderland. Jserra's "Alice in Wonderland" is a unique portrayal of Lewis Carroll's timeless tale, told through the vision that the characters of Wonderland represent different mental or physical illnesses as Alice begins her journey in a hospital room.

With her sly smile, Zoe Strickland captures the essence of the Cheshire Cat. Enticing the adamant Alice (Abigail Cox), Strickland sassily saunters around the stage. Bold and devious, Strickland drapes herself over the bed, leans on top of the wall, and pops out from behind a curtain as she meddles in Alice's quest to find her heart. Amused by Alice's struggles, Strickland snaps her fingers and confidently chuckles.

Noah Herrera, playing the White Knight, creates his goofy character by slightly swaying and continuously flipping his glasses on and off. Smiling widely, Herrera stands tall as he introduces the Queen of Hearts (Rachael Patin). Only stepping on the white squares of the checkerboard, Herrera provides a comedic performance as he dashes around from square to square with a flourish.

Nathan Schrodt produces endless entertainment as the sporadic White Rabbit as he completes actions in increments of three. Bursting out from the door, Schrodt closes the door three times before scurrying on stage with nimble steps. Valuing time, Schrodt grasps his pocket watch as he pitter-patters his feet while pacing.

The set designers, Kayden Cutchins and Rachael Patin, create an exceptional technical element in the show. With a checkerboard for a floor and a variety of doors, Cutchins and Patin create the enchanting Wonderland. Filling the walls with bright, colorful arrows, geometric shapes, and curvy lines, Cutchins and Patin reflect the overwhelming thoughts in Alice's head.

Bleeding fantasy into reality, Austin Asher enhances the show with his sound designs. A thundering sound grows louder and louder as Alice falls farther and farther down into the rabbit hole. As Alice travels through the various places in Wonderland, Asher plays voiceovers of previous criticisms her friends and family told her, to heighten the intensity. Reflecting the struggle as Alice drowns in her thoughts, a monstrous chomping sound blares.

Altogether, the talented cast of JSerra Catholic performs "Alice in Wonderland" with exceptional creativity and passion with the help of astonishing technical elements.

Lauren Lee
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

JSerra's "Alice in Wonderland" is an imaginative exploration of sanity
written by Lauren Lee, a senior at University High School

JSerra Catholic High School reimagines the classic tale of "Alice in Wonderland," placing Alice in the realm of a hospital in which she encounters characters with varying mental disorders.

Leading the story is Abigail Cox, who plays the wide-eyed, level headed girl, Alice. Cox demonstrates a childlike persona by mindlessly wandering around the stage and blurting out fast paced lines of dialogue. Her steady, well mannered nature is leveled out by the numerous bizarre creatures she stumbles across, such as White Rabbit, portrayed by Nathan Schrodt. Diagnosed with OCD, and darting to and fro, Schrodt exudes the Rabbit's anxious behavior as he meticulously shuts the door over and over until he is pleased. Schrodt's presence is defined by his rapid bolts across stage and intricate attention to detail.

Zoe Strickland guides the narrative as the spunky, smiling, Cheshire Cat. Strickland fully embodies the nature of the smug creature through her sultry struts and devious grin. Strickland glares into the audience as she delivers her lengthy poetic verses and directs Alice to her final destination before she unveils the essential secret of Wonderland.

Upon arrival to Alice's final destination, Rachael Patin reveals herself as the foul tempered Queen of Hearts. Patin's shrill shouts and rapid shifts in emotion signify her bipolar disorder and the internal madness that lies within all creatures on Wonderland.

Costumes, designed by Chloe Casdorph and Keely Schrantz, tie together to create an intriguing, bold take of the modernized show. The red color scheme is evident in the King of Heart's deep, bloody red dress shirt and the Queen's bright, safety pin adorned dress. Casdorph and Schrants brilliantly tied in elements of the hospital by clothing Dorothy in a hospital gown, mirroring the character's signature pale blue dress.

Makeup, executed by Abigail Cox and Zoe Strickland, conveys the chaos that resides within the characters that Alice meets. The Cheshire Cat has thin, arched brows that complement her lengthy jeweled lashes, and has a scar plastered on her face, revealing her history of trauma and detriment. Caterpillar's grey tinted face reveals his sickly nature, along with drastic contouring to hollow out his appearance.

JSerra's striking production of "Alice in Wonderland" is an entertaining revelation of the absurdities in life and the struggle of finding sanity in a rather insane world.