LONG REVIEW! Oops!

Finally got to see Wonderland this past Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I have to admit after all the changes I've heard/seen in the show/casting/pictures/concept CD, my hopes were pretty low. However, it's incredible (as most of you were expecting). It's very different than I expected, and do NOT judge base off the concept recording. Only a select couple of songs appear the same way they do.

First of all, while Murphy's lyrics are still..not good, he's changed a lot of the major problems from the concept album.


ACTORS / ACTRESSes:

Janet Dacal as Alice is good. Still not convinced she's the best singer / actress to pick, but she certainly isn't the worse. She has a spunky attitude that's needed for this Alice. I think she lacks star power, which maybe she'll gain as the show continues. It's a tough deal to have atleast two songs where you are virtually the ONLY thing onstage. Found myself looking around at the show's finale "Finding Wonderland." The real star is DARREN RITCHIE, as the White Knight. Loveable and laughable, he's a huge asset to the show. Loved him in DRACULA, the musical as well, but who knew he had it in him to command a show.

Nikki Snelson is the other full standout in the production. Even in the ensemble number "Welcome to Wonderland," where everyone is wearing the same costume/wig, you can spot out Snelson. Perhaps the best part of her performance comes without her even singing, but rather during the Chess game. So many quick little quirps and jokes thrown on her part make her one of the best to watch.

Julie Brooks as the small daughter Chloe is wonderful. Does she look 10-ish or however young she's supposed to be? NOT AT ALL. Whatever, talent is talent. Her voice passes as young luckily. Saw her understudy whose name I'm lacking...I'm sure the girl was nervous, but she was no where near the talent of Brooks, but looked more like a 10 y/o!

Karen Mason does her best and is shockingly funny in her delivery. Same goes for Tad WIlson, as the Jabberwocky who I feared would be too over the top. Jose Llana (Cheshire Cat/ El Gato) does as best as he can with his material, as does Tommar Wilson as the Caterpillar. Their parts are smaller, but still essential to the story. Another surprise performance was by the Rabbit, Edward Staudenmayer. VERY funny, and very good.



SHOW ITSELF:



Some complaints: Overall Act 1 is too long. The opening, "Worst Day of My Life" is either two of three verses spread out over 10 minutes. There's another song interjected in there as well, and I understand they want to establish the double-personalities, but..it's lengthy.

The main complaint about length comes between "The Mad Hatter" and "Once More I Can See." After the Mad Hatter's song, there is a long gap of dialogue until the next song. While dialogue can be crucial, it takes a lot of time. By the time Alice starts singing "Once More I Can See" (which has nearly a full-out lyric change and finally makes sense where they ended up putting it in the show - I believe the versions recorded by Dacal and Brandi Burkhardt were meant to be the finale!), the action is slow. After talking to a lot of people, they complained Act 1 is boring. "Love Begins" in Act 2 does something similar - all the music is so jumpy and catchy, and then they place these little ballads in there...

Good news is the Cheshire Cat's Song / Go With the Flow is chopped up a bit more and isn't how it is on the recording. It goes into the audience's ears MUCH easier than before, no worries.

"One Knight" is the funniest moment of the night. I know, I know I had my concerns about them going overboard with the all boy-band number thing, but Darren Ritchie and his back up singers have the song and dance down perfectly. I know it sounds stupid on paper, but if you saw it in person, you'd be laughing with the rest of the theatre.

Strongest parts of the score in context with the show: "Through the Looking Glass," "Nick of Time," "Mad Hatter Song," "Off with their Heads!" and "Finding Wonderland."

Weak LYRICS: "Home" (nice melody though!), and a few bits of lyrics in "Don't Wanna Fall in Love Again" ("The fights before the make-up sex!" comes to mind immediately. If this is a family show Jack..why?).

There is a pretty little song called "I Am My Own Invention," but it comes out of nowhere and is sung by the character of Lewis Carol (shockingly, Ritchie again). Off-topic, but Ritchie is horrible walking with a cane, and Dacal could be worse with the axe and cutting the chords off the prisoners, but I'm not sure how!

Set design is good - the projections are mostly funny (atleast I hope!) than serious, going through the looking glass looks cool! Costumes are fantastic. Choreography is similarly very good, especially in "Don't Wanna Fall in Love Again" and "one Knight" with the boy band! Snelson's songs all have her backup girl-troupers with her and she's always moving. Likewise, all great dancing.

I'd definitely have to recommend this show. ..Because Florida audiences gave us a great heads up with Tale of Two Cities saying it'll be a big hit, and many of the Tampa-natives I talked to who saw it saying this is ready for a Broadway and will be a huge hit...I'll hold my tongue. I think Frank has great material on his hands, I could see some changes being implemented, but hopefully he doesn't mess with this one too much.