REVIEW: Wonderland at Grand Opera House, York

Wonderland is a new musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass.

The music, written by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Jack Murphy contained just about every genre going, rock, pop, power ballads.

The book, written by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy has re-imagined the storyline; Alice , Rachael Wooding, is a single mother living in a grim block of flats with her teenage daughter Ellie, Naomi Morris.

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She suffers her “Worst Day on her 40th birthday, finding out that her ex-husband is going to remarry, and getting fired from her job. Ellie seems to be a lot more perceptive than her mother; enter nervous neighbour Jack, Stephen Webb, then later a white rabbit, Dave Willetts, who disappears into a lift and the scene is set for their adventures.

The first half was wwacky; full credit for the colourful set, characters and costumes as we entered Wonderland with Alice. I was particularly impressed with the vibrant Advice From A Caterpillarmusical number, featuring Kayi Ushe and his Caterpillar’s Legs, Hail The Queen” featuring the power-mad, jam tart chomping Queen of Hearts, Wendi Peters and company, and Jack’s big number which gave us One Knight to remember.

The tea party scene was as zany as you would have expected, with Natalie McQueen commanding the space as the mad Hatter.

The second half seemed to run of steam. It was a fine finale, and I’m sure Frozen fans would have particularly relished the full throttle Finding Wonderland.

Wonderland is on at the Grand Opera House, York, until Saturday March 11, daily at 7.30pm plus a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets on 0844 871 3024.