I posted the review I posted on Broadwayworld and other sights on this board, but I thought I'd share what I personally think needs improving. Mostly plot points!


1) End of Act 1 Gets slow and boring. The two dialogue scenes following The Mad Hatter's Song until Through the Looking Glass. Have always loved "Once More I Can See," but personally find it too slow of a song to tack in there. The one dialogue scene is necessary - the Hatter's which sets up her motives, but I'm not sure the other one was, clearly I'm forgetting it!

2) I know the lyrics changed to Once More I Can See, but since the writers introduced a Lewis Carroll character and the song "I Am My Own Invention," why not have "Once More I Can See" as Alice's response to that song? Perhaps move that to the first act and have the White Knight waiting outside that door (Obviously this would be tough!) and then have the rabbit say the news about the Looking Glass! Maybe they'd have to move one of the other character songs into the second act, maybe the Caterpillar's song should move into beginning of Act 2, focusing more on the advice of helping her daughter/marriage, and he can still be helping Chloe with her "plan"

3) Lastly (for now :-)), I think the story should try to focus more on the fact of Chloe trying to bring her parents together. Atleast, that's what I thought the message was trying to do when I saw the show. Perhaps it wasn't strong enough or I'm imagining things!

Yeah I heard about the re-write of Once more I can see...I think you probably make a good point in moving it to second Act.

Like almost all other Franks shows, this one has a problematic script. The thing is, Wonderland has far to many characters (Phoebe left the show 'cause she wasn't being able to handle all of them into a decent story.) and we have to make options. Sure I would like the Caterpillar to have more depth but I think the song works where it is...'cause the songs point, to me, is more Alice trying to understand what on earth is going on and where is her daughter. She has just arrived to Wonderland.
On the other hand, the Caterpillar function was never to help Alice. He goes round and rounder and doesn't get anywhere at all...it's the way Carol wrote the character to be.

On the other hand I feel that the Rabbit, granted his important role in the show, could use a good song. A funny song for examle. Actually, from what I know the Rabbit actually HAD a funny song planed for him so perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to put it back.

As for the role of Chloe, I think what she wants is for her mother to understand that she neglects her family and that she needs a mother, not a machine that writes books. That's why Chloe goes to Wonderland. For Alice to regain touch with her inner-child and understand how she feels.

I'm still not sure about the necessity of Love begins in the show...I mean...they sing Don't wanna fall in love and after that jump right into Love begins? Why? Did they needed to sing a duett to realize they where..."in love" (not that they are actually...)

Re: Caterpillar...if they put another song in Act 1, it's already too long (at about 1hr 20min I believe!), so I figure they'd have to put one song cut or move it to Act II.


I forgot about this part....my #4 point!

First: Problem in Act II....is the WHITE KNIGHT supposed to be JACK? I was under the impression that the White Knight is the Wonderland version of Jack...but NOT Jack.

I think it'd be a funny and good idea to do Love Begins first, then put Don't Wanna Fall in Love directly after it that way! If the White Knight is so arrogant and self-loving, why not have him make a comment after Love Begins (NOT song as a duet, but as two solos) of him saying "I know you're falling in love with me!" or something of the sort...and then have Alice start Don't Wanna Fall in Love!

I don't really understand the problem in the USA with the lenght of the shows... :lol: I mean...Sondheim's Sweeney Todd is long as hell and everyone loves it. I honestly prefer a show that is longer but makes more sence than a 1 hour per Act with a script that is just a bunch of things put together. But somehow all my american friends always complain about the lenght :P
(btw...prepare yourselfs...Rebecca's 1st Act is 1h30m lol Although I know they are reducing Mrs.Van Hoppers role, still...)
I do agree on moving Once more I can see to Act II though. As for the dialog I dunno how long it takes but sometimes it has more to do with the way its staged and the pauses between the lines etc more than with the script lenght.
(ex: Rebecca again. In Japan for example, the production of Rebecca was even longer than the Vienna due to the long space between lines)

Yeah that change would be more wise I think. And what I feel is that every character in WOnderland is the mirror of the real person Alice knows. So the White Knight is Jack, the Queen is Mrs. Everheart etc. However we have so little info on the real Jack (since he just appears briefly to ask for a divorce) that is hard to know if the White Knights personality is that different from JAck's...