`Begin at the beginning,’ the King said gravely, `and go on till you come to the end: then stop.’
And so we shall…
With an adaptation by Jared Gray and direction by Robbie Rozelle, Feinstein’s/54 Below fell down the rabbit hole last night for 54 Sings Alice in Wonderland.
You might be wondering, Is this the Alice in Wonderland Musical that was on Broadway several years ago?
Oh no, no, no, my friend.
This is an Alice for the cult-classic-loving, made-for-tv-movie-watching, nostalgic audience.
Let me explain…
In 1985, CBS produced a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass in a two-part (and $14 million!) special for the ages. The score by the “incredibly imaginative” Steve Allen had never been performed live– until last night!
The CBS broadcast featured the talents of (takes a deep breath) Natalie Gregory, Carol Channing, Sammy Davis Jr, Ringo Starr, Ann Jillian, Scott Baio, Shelley Winters, Sherman Hemsley, John Stamos, Lloyd Bridges, Jayne Meadows, Ernest Borgnine, Beau Bridges, Jonathan Winters, Sally Struthers, Merv Griffin, and Patrick Duffy!
“Quick round of applause for Patrick Duffy!” director Rozelle urged us all. This kind of interactive and jocular patter peppered the production as the connective tissue that allowed for a two-part movie-musical to be covered in 75 minutes live on stage.
The use of production stills from the film supported Rozelle and Gray’s explication of the story and the provided visual aid for their incredulity that some of these moments ever made it to air. (Their back and forth became almost like an immersive Mystery Science Theater, or even 54’s new resident Statler and Waldorf…”I was 8 when it came out…and when I came out!”)
The supper-club nature of Feinstein’s/ 54 Below was certainly at home here, as the energy of a mad tea party infused every audience member to the point of jovial proclamation, applause, and even heckling, as the show progressed.
Now, in an era of Jesus Christ Superstar and Grease LIVE, this may seem like any ‘ol television spectacle, but if I learned anything last night, it’s that this Alice is an absolute touchstone for all televised musical events to come after it… and nothing, to my knowledge, has surpassed it in camp, star-power, and pure absurdity.
(Please take a moment right now and head to YouTube to view some clips for yourself…let’s confuse the heck outta CBS as to why this special is getting an unprecedented spike in views this week!)
The 54 Sings cast was filled to the brim with some of Broadway’s zaniest character actors, each bringing a special commitment and silliness to the revolving door of Wonderland’s inhabitants. As Alice puts it, “everything today has been quite queer!” You said it, sister!
As delightful as Nathan Lee Graham’s Mouse and Carly Ozard’s Duchess were, the real stage-stealers of the evening were the Queens.
The Queen of Hearts (Amy Jo Jackson, Kinky Boots), The Red Queen (Dana Costello, Finding Neverland) and The White Queen (Alexis Michelle, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9) presented high-drama, comedy, and sweetness with material that was, at times, absolutely ludicrous.
Amy Jo Jackson brought the house down with her declarations of the classic line, “Off with their heads!” and inhabited the queen in a way that activated our love for the comic-book nature of her comedic extremism and also contemporized her in a charming (and sexy!) new way.
Dana Costello’s Red Queen gets some of the most soaring and earnest moments in the production, singing sweetly and acting as a mentor to Alice on her journey from pawn to queen in the game of chess we call life. “Emotions” was a stand-out moment, redefining “her royal highness” for Costello’s inimitable vocal range.
Last but certainly not least is Alexis Michelle’s White Queen… perhaps the queen of the evening’s queens! The role was originated in the CBS broadcast by Carol Channing, and Alexis Michelle’s comedic prowess did NOT disappoint in a delightful celebration of the quintessential Channing during her performance of the iconic, “Jam Tomorrow.” Absolutely nothing makes sense about this song, but… that’s the whole point! When you’re through the looking-glass, everything is inside-out and upside-down!
And when the White Queen and the Red Queen come together to teach the newly crowned Alice about the duties of being a proper royal, I found myself touched by the message that any little girl can grow up to be a queen. There will be wacky detours and unbelievable triumphs in life, but to persevere with presence, openness, and maybe a little song-and-dance is to live a rich life of growth and wonder.
Three cheers for 54 Sings Alice in Wonderland for celebrating the weird and wonderful!