Hi!

I'm Lindsey Noel Whiting.

I am an actor and Artistic Associate here at Lookingglass Theatre.

Tonight, my cast members and I are delighted to share with you "Lookingglass Alice," one of Lookingglass Theatre's signature shows.

This is an "Alice in Wonderland" like nothing you've seen before.

It's packed with physical risks and circus arts and infused with new twists on the story and its characters.

It's not just for kids!

It's for anyone who has been a kid or who's watching kids grow up.

I'm actually a part of the production that you're about to see tonight.

I have played the role of Alice 322 times, give or take, over the last 15 years here in Chicago and across the country.

The role is physically demanding, as you will see, so it's double cast, and you're gonna see my colleague Molly onstage tonight, but that means that I get to be your host for the evening and take you backstage to show you how we make the magic here in this castle on Michigan Avenue.

So enjoy "Lookingglass Alice," and I'll see you after the show.

♪ Children: ♪ Twinkle, twinkle little star... ♪ Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

♪ If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands ♪ ♪ The itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout ♪ ♪ Merrily, merrily, merrily ♪ Alice: Shh!

Listen!

♪ Ha ha ha!

Oh, you wicked, wicked little thing.

Really, Kitty, you ought to learn better manners.

You've gone and unwound every bit of yarn while I wasn't looking!

Ha ha!

[Playing "Twinkle, Twinkle"] Shh!

Listen.

♪ Do you hear the snowflakes against the windowpane?

How soft it sounds?

Just as if someone were kissing the window all over on the outside.

I shouldn't mind if it were summer, though.

Mr. Dodgson would take us out on his rowboat and fill our heads with stories and nonsense.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise... You know, Kitty, when we were playing chess just now, I really might have won if it hadn't been for that White Knight who came wriggling down among my pieces.

Alice moving under skies... Kitty, let's pretend to be queens!

You'll be the Red Queen, and I shall be the White Queen.

Shutting your eyes tighter and tighter still is always of some use.

Never seen by waking eyes.

I want to be a queen!

Still she haunts me... i¡Quiero ser una reina!

phantomwise.

I want to be... [Yawns] 10... [Chime] Both: 11... [Chime] 12... [Chime] 13?

Curious.

Curious.

[Clock ticking] [Gasp] Mr. Dodgson!

Alice!

Both: Curiouser... [Ticking] Inside a looking glass, I'm supposed to see myself.

No, myself.

Then which hand am I holding up?

Alice: My left.

Dodgson: M-my right.

Both: Curiouser and curiouser.

[Glass shattering] Oops!

Oops!

[Audience laughing] Woman, on P.A.

: Strike furniture, please!

Stand by, lights 16 and sound 65.

Stand by, White Rabbit.

Try not to miss this cue.

Uh, we are standing by, Mr. Dodgson.

Dodgson: Uh... th-th-thank you?

Where are we, Mr. Dodgson?

Through the looking glass, I suppose.

On the other side?

On the other side!

Ha ha ha!

Young Miss Alice Little was b-b-beginning to get rather tired of her old friend Charles D-D-Dodgson, but you all perhaps know me as Lewis Carroll, which... is deeply uninteresting.

Young Miss Alice was beginning to get rather tired of her old friend when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran right by.

Woman, on P.A.

: White Rabbit, go.

White Rabbit: Oh, my ears and whiskers!

Woman, on P.A.

: Anytime, White Rabbit!

White Rabbit: Ah, Dios mío, estoy tarde.

I'm late!

Aah!

Dodgson: Which wouldn't have been so very odd, save for the-- Alice: Waistcoat!

And for the-- Black Bowler!

And for the-- Through the rabbit hole!

The talking part!

Hello, Charles.

Hello.

How are you keeping?

What's happening?

No time!

I mustn't lose my head.

Mustn't lose my head.

Lose my head!

Lost head.

Lost head!

Oh, my ears and whiskers!

i¡Oh, mis orejas favoritas y mis únicos y más favoritos bigotes!

The queen will take them right off!

White Rabbit, wait!

Sheared ears and shorn whiskers, and nothing but a neck!

i¡Solo tendré un cuello!

Please come back, White Rabbit!

This isn't quite what I had in mind.

Ohh!

Ayy!

Where did he go, Mr. Dodgson?

Dodgson: Well, he's headed... he's headed down this rabbit hole.

Down the rabbit hole.

What do you suppose it's like, falling down a rabbit hole?

Something like the moon tugging at your apron strings.

Like being off balance then?

Like being adrift in a sea of tears.

[Waves crashing] Alice: Oh, a sea of tears.

How wonderfully sad.

Dodgson: Or like being in love.

Oh, in love, like a grownup!

Oh, no.

Grownups are so seldom off balance, which is why I shouldn't recommend that.

Yes, but queens!

Queens, you see.

They are so full of poise and grace and balance.

Oh!

Oh, I should so like to be a queen.

And so you shall.

So you shall.

Off you go then.

Down the rabbit hole with you.

♪ Ha ha ha!

Alice's voice, echoing: Ever falling... down...down...down...down.

Ever falling... then up, up...up, up...up, up.

Like falling in love.

Like falling into the sea of tears.

Like falling through the earth.

Like being off balance.

Up to the other side, the upside downside.

Alice: Whoa!

Another place, like falling in love.

Ever falling and then up, up, up.

Like being off balance.

Up...up... to another place, falling through earth, ever falling.

[Waves crashing] [Fetal heartbeat] ♪ Oh!

Ohh!

[Grunts] [Whoosh] Ow!

Ha!

[Audience laughing] Well, after such a fall as this, I will think nothing of falling downstairs.

Ha!

[Cat meows] Kitty!

[Meow] You wicked, wicked little thing.

Meow.

i¡Ay, sí, gatito!

Meow.

Here you go.

[Mewing] Drink me.

[Exhales] Drink Me.

[Audience laughing] Drink...me.

[Pop] Come on!

A-glug, glug, glug, glug, glug, glug, glug, glug, glug, glug glug, glug, glug, glug.

Ga-goo, ga-goo, ga-goo, ga-goo, ga-goo, ga-goo!

Ahh.

[Burps] [Coughs] [Burp] [Burp] [Burp] [Pop] Nnnn!

Ohh!

It tastes like butter rum lozenge--oh-- oh, and, um-- and pineapple tart.

Oh!

and that's eel pie with chocolate sauce.

Eww!

[Moaning] [Growling] Kitty?

Mr. Dodgson?

i¡Señor Dodgson!

[Purring] Meow!

[Audience laughing] [Growling] [Screeches] Voice: You wicked, wicked little thing!

You unwound every bit of the yarn while I wasn't looking!

Am I addressing the White Queen?

If you call that addressing.

It's not my notion of the thing at all.

I call it... unwinding.

Oh, no.

I didn't unwind the yarn.

You didn't yet, but you soon shall, and once it's all unwound, it will all surely wind up again in the end, no doubt.

The good tales always do.

But why should I be responsible for something I haven't done yet?

But surely you shall do it, so why shouldn't you be responsible?

Well, That's backward.

Drawkcab staht.

I beg your pardon?

Ahem.

Drawkcab staht.

That's "that's backward" backwards.

[Squeaking] [Pop] Uh, White Queen, could you please tell me how I might become a queen like you?

Ohh!

No!

[Audience laughing] But I can tell you how to get to where you are.

Oh.

Sí, pero... how might I become a queen?

One step at a time!

And you've begun entirely wrong already!

Back to your square... pawn!

The first thing in a visit in a proper civilized society that strives toward enlightenment with an emphasis on empathy, compassion, and general goodwill to one's fellow fellows and ladies and the like is to say, "How do you do?"

How do you do?

And curtsey.

How do you do?

Twice.

How do you do?

It saves time.

Yes.

Your majesty, could you please tell me how to get to the other side?

Run!

Run?

Yes!

Run!

[Audience laughing] Faster!

Faster!

Faster!

Are we nearly there?

Nearly there?

Why, we passed it 10 minutes ago!

Now, faster!

Faster!

♪ Faster ♪ And...stop!

You may rest.

But we're exactly where we started.

Of course.

How would you have it?

Well, where I come from, you'd generally have gotten someplace if you ran very fast for a long time.

A slow sort of a place, indeed.

Here, it takes all the running you can do just to keep in the same place.

You have to run twice as fast if you want to get somewhere.

Why?

It's the... ♪ Ruuuuuu-ule ♪ [Audience laughing] Tea cake?

Oh, no, thank you.

They're quite refreshing.

I'm not hungry.

I insist.

Oh.

I'm actually quite thirsty.

I made it myself.

Oh, I'm sure it's delicious.

Munch munch munch!

I said no, thank you.

Eat the bloody tea cake!

Oh!

It seems a bit dry!

Ohh!

Would you have me offer you soggy tea cakes?!

Off with her head!

What?

Off with her head!

No.

No.

I'm rather attached to my head, and besides...

Precisely!

If everyone stayed attached to what was in his or her or their heads, where would our world be?

Um.

Off with it!

On.

Off!

Off!

Honestly... Off!

White Rabbit: Ah, Dios mío.

Estoy tarde.

Estoy tarde.

Very, very late!

i¡Tarde!

Oh, dear.

Within a hare's breath!

My breath.

Hi, White Rabbit.

Careful, young lady.

Sign this waiver.

A waiver?

[Clearing throat] Your majesty?

You're late!

Tu cabeza de conejo blanco i¡en un plato de plata!

White Rabbit: i¡Mi cabeza!

Off with your cabeza!

Oh, my ears and whiskers!

Off with your ears and whiskers!

My ears and whiskers?

Off with it all!

Oh!

A rabbit's rasping rale!

Oh, sweet rale, oh, sweet breath!

Oh, cottony tail and fortunate foot!

Get down and come here so I can chop off your cabeza!

My head she'll lop before the day is done!

Hares do hop and rabbits run, so run, you rabbit, run!

Thank your majesty.

Run with your feet, not with your mouth!

Preparations for the impending royal coronation for the pawn who would become a queen, your majesty!

Red Queen: Yes, quite good.

Quite good.

A queen!

Give me two.

Oh.

One, two.

Thank you.

Yes, your majesty, I wonder if I could trouble you for some instruction.

You see, I don't quite know my way around here.

Your way?

That's because round here, all ways belong to me.

Oh, well, yes, but what I mean to say...

Mean to say?

I don't think it's mean at all.

A little rude perhaps.

Off with her head!

Preparations for the ball, your majesty.

Tick tock.

Yes!

One step at a time, one step at a time, from A to B to C and so on.

Take away the rules, and what remains?

Chaos!

Upon entering the ballroom, as upon entering unto society, a young woman of reason and comportment shall so endeavor to bear about her all manner of manner and must reject those improprieties deemed low and vulgar, such as and including specifically unnecessary expressions of pleasure and whimsy.

Alice: Whee!

Tempt not cataclysm and catastrophe with aforementioned whimsy!

I am ready for my coronation, your majesty.

After her first move, a pawn may move only one square at a time, never more and always forward.

Your other forward.

Oh!

Ooh!

She shall move one square at a time forward until she has reached the final square, and then...then she shall be crowned-- ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-- ahh--a queen.

A queen may move in any direction she pleases, you see?

In any direction, at any time, at her own prerogative.

Laughter and whimsy are a recipe for anarchy, barbarism, chaos cataclysm, and... chhkkkkkrrrrr, psshh, psshh, psshh--sorry-- catastrophe!

♪ Godspeed ♪ Pawn.

Adieu.

You may applaud the Queen!

Thank you!

Oh, my!

[Cheering and applause] Loyal subjects!

Voice: Mmm, perfect!

Alicia, my dear.

How are you getting on?

One is full of backwards nonsense, and the other just keeps barking orders.

It's all a little maddening.

Yes, indeed.

But I don't want to go mad.

Oh.

You can't help that.

I'm mad.

You're mad.

We're all mad here.

How does one know if they've gone mad?

A dog is sane and right as rain, yes?

Mm-hmm.

Well, a dog wags his tail when he's happy and growls when he's angry, hmm?

Sí, claro.

Well, I wag my tail when I'm angry, and I gggrrrowl when I'm happy.

So the opposite.

Yeah.

That is quite disorienting.

You've got to learn to crawl before you can fly.

Keep the squares in front of you.

[As Red Queen] One square at a time!

Like the lady says.

Hee hee!

Oh, um, but how?

You will travel from one square to the next and on again to the next, square after square until you reach the end.

The first square belongs to the Queen.

[Chime] The second square is where you begin.

[Chime] Square and after square until the eighth and final square... [Chiming] and then you will become a queen.

Along the way, you'll meet other pieces of this game.

Your knight, your queen, and myself among others.

Oh, and which piece are you?

A rook?

Oh, no, a king perhaps?

No.

I am the Cheshire Cat.

Keep the squares in front of you.

OK. Oh, no, no, no, no.

Ahh.

OK. To begin at the beginning.

Won't do to start at the end.

Each beginning begins with a step and then another step and another still, and eventually-- [Chime] See?

Ha ha ha!

Aah!

[Audience laughing] Oh!

Eeh!

[Laughter] [Alice gasps] Aw.

Uhh.

[Sighs] Ow!

Woman: Queen's pawn to Queen's third.

What?

Voices: What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What?!

What, what, what?

Ohh!

Ah!

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

What?!

Ahh.

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

i¡Hola!

What, what, what?

What, what, what, what?

No?

OK. Um... um, excuse me!

Why, why, why?

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who am I?

Who are you?

Caterpillar, I hardly know just at present.

At least I knew who I was when I woke up this morning, but I must have changed several times since then.

When, when?

Why, why?

What?!

Aah!

What?

Look.

I can't explain myself because I'm not myself, you see.

What?!

It's all very confusing!

All: Changing!

How is one to know where one stands when one's own feet feel further and farther away each moment of the day?

Further and farther away?

I'm in the air!

Where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where, where?

Um....when?

When you turn into a chrysalis.

Oop!

Chrysalis?

Yes, and you know you will someday, and then into a butterfly.

A what-will-fly?

A butterfly.

I should think you'll feel quite odd.

How, how, how, why?

OK, I think it's time for you to tell me how to get out of this wood and on to the other side so that I may become a queen.

Oh!

Why?

Alice: Well, so that I get invited to fabulous parties and meet young persons of nobility and never, ever have to practice my lessons again!

Aah!

Why?

I just told you why.

Why?

Oh, never mind.

How, how, how?

I know how!

Finally, some instruction.

[Snapping] Keep the beat.

The beat?

Try not to lose your tempo.

Well, I usually like to close my eyes.

And count to how many?

10?

1, 2, 3, 4.

Et cetera... et cetera... et cetera!

Is that all?

No.

How, how, how?

How, how, how?

How, how, how?

How, how, how?

How, how, how?

How, how, how?

Alice: OK.

I can move.

How, how, how?

Play!

Play?

Ha ha ha!

Play!

I don't know how.

How?

You haven't.

How have you forgotten-ed!

I never knew.

Every who-am-I knows how to play.

Yes, I know how to play, but I don't know how to play this.

What, what?

It's the same thing.

You know what.

But I should have to practice.

Why not?

In fact, playing takes practice.

Those who haven't practice-ed can't play.

They forgotten-ed.

Forgotten-ed?

Can't, shan't, and won't.

Won't and shan't.

Shall never and never will.

Will you, won't you?

Won't you, will you?

Will you, won't you?

Won't you, will you?

Will you, won't you?

Oh!

You forgot this!

Um, I really have--mmm.

Do you know how to play this?

No, no.

It'd be cool if you did, though.

Ha ha ha!

Be cool.

Um... [Sputters] Heh heh heh.

[Plays some notes] OK. Ha ha ha!

[Playing more notes] Ha ha ha!

I thought that was pretty good.

I don't know about you.

[Applause] [Audience laughing] Are you gonn--u-- [Chime] Ha!

Huzzah!

Ow!

Woman: Queen's pawn to Queen's 4.

Excuse me one second.

[Audience laughing] I don't know what's going on.

Just--agh!

Gah!

This is just nonsense!

Man: Nonsense?

[Fanfare] Nonsense!

Alarums!

Trumpets flourish!

And entrance of the pensive and yet heroic hero-type and his--errr--rusty steed!

Err!

Err!

Easy boy, easy.

Easy, easy.

What's the matter?

Errr!

It's just-- it's just a bunch of people who laugh at you when you hurt yourself.

It's probably fine.

Don't worry about it.

It's probably--ohh!

The Jabberwock!

Gah!

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

"The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

"Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!"

Oh, there was a ladder.

[Audience laughing] Hello!

Aah!

Huh!

♪ 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe... [Babbling] [Laughter] All mimsy were the borogoves... [Babbling] And the mome raths outgrabe.

Can you make an outgrabing sound?

[Groans] Pretty good, but it should be, like, 172 times louder.

Very good.

Nice.

Workshop that.

It's a good one, though.

He took his vorpal sword in hand-- Shing!

Ffpp, ffpp, thmp!

Aah!

Nobody move, nobody touch that sword!

it is incredibly vorpal!

You didn't touch it, did you?

Good.

It's also imaginary.

You didn't imagine touching it, did you?

[Laughter] You're in trouble, kid.

Shing!

Aah!

Long time the manxome foe he sought-- So--shhkk--rested he by the Tumtum tree, And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood-- Whoa!

And burbled as it came!

Oh, boy.

Ohh!

Um... new plan.

You go!

[Laughter] Go get the Jabberwock!

No?

You strike me as an intelligent person who's gonna live a long life.

Shing!

Aah!

One, two!

One, two!

And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead--sshhtt-- and with its head-- Thank you!

[Both screaming] He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

"Oh, come to my arms, my beamish boy!

"O frabjous day!

Callooh!

Callay!"

He chortled in his joy.

Victory!

That's good.

[Audience laughing] I'm really happy for you.

Did you want to put me down?

Yeah.

Ohh!

Ugh!

Dismount!

Alice: Um...good sir knight?

Yeah.

Um, I wonder if perchance you could help me get on to the next square, you see, because I am very anxious to get ahead, and I would like to skip one if I might.

Baah!

Huh?

Ah.

I dare say you noticed I was looking rather thoughtful just now.

Um... Baah!

Yes, yes.

Um, a little grave.

Well, just then I was inventing a new way of getting over... a gate.

Would you like to hear it?

I'm sure it's wonderful.

I'll tell you how I came to think of it.

OK. Tell you what, could you just hang on to that for me real quick?

Do be careful.

The outside is actually sharp, and the inside is really gross.

I'll tell you how I came to think of it.

Gate.

Sit.

No, no, no.

Gate!

Ohh!

Gate.

So I said to myself, I said, "Self, the only trouble is with the feet because the head is high enough already."

See?

Yes.

Ohh!

So I simply place my head upon the gate.

Then the head is high enough, you see, and then I simply stand up on my head, and then the feet are also high enough, you see?

[Straining] Yeah, yeah, I do see that.

Then I kind of slide-- kind of do a really awkward twist thing.

I take a little breather... Oh, take your time.

and then I push, and I flop, and I'm over, you see?

Yeah.

Whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa!

[Cheering and applause] Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Come on!

Yes, I do suppose your feet would be over when that was said and done, but don't you think it would be rather difficult?

Well, I can't say for certain because I haven't tried it yet, but, yes, I do suppose it could be... rather difficult, but, I mean, you know... life too, right?

But it's all part of it.

It's all of a piece.

You know, like a-- like a--uh, like a pie or a--or a cake or a--or a ceasefire.

That is a different kind of peace.

Oh, But a welcome peace all the same, and here I must leave you.

You see, the king has put me and all of his men on call in case Humpty Dumpty should have a great autumn.

No, fall... Fall?

Fall!

Fall!

Dismount!

[Cheering and applause] Sorry.

Did you hear that?

Did I hear what?

Not, like, the sounds of human hands striking one another, but, like... [Snores loudly] that snoring sound.

Yes, I did hear that, but you did just make that sound.

Shh.

All right.

[Snores] OK.

It's clearly you making the noise.

Shh!

OK. Mm-hmm.

[Snores] Shh!

Ohh!

It's the Red King asleep and snoring!

[Red King mumbling] White Knight: What do you suppose he dreams about?

Alice: Nobody could guess that.

He dreams about you.

Alicia.

And if he were to leave off dreaming... Alice: Oh, no.

Stay.

¿Alicia?

White Knight: If he were to leave off dreaming, then where do you suppose you would be?

Red King: i¡Alicia!

Where I am here right now.

White Knight: Oh, no.

i¡Alicia!

Not you!

You'd be nowhere.

Why, you're only a sort of thing in his dream!

No, I'm real, I'm here!

If that there king was to wake, you'd go out.

Bang!

i¡Alicia!

[Alice screaming] [Panting] Just like a candle.

Well, I'm off!

[Laughter] Arrivederci!

Hors d'oeuvres!

Adi noches.

[Neighs] Oh.

[Neighs] Easy, boy, easy.

Easy.

It's gonna be fine.

Don't--don't be embarrassed.

It's just gonna be-- [Audience groans] Nooooo!

There was nothing public television could do!

[Laughter] But you got to learn to crawl before you can fly.

Oh.

Wait.

How old did you say you were?

7 and 6 months.

7 1/2.

Ohh.

It's an uncomfortable sort of an age, you know.

You ask my advice, I'd have stayed at 7.

One can't help growing older.

Maybe one can't, but two... perhaps two can.

Ahoy!

Until we meet again.

Ahoy!

Check!

Check!

Check--aah!

[Crash] Dismount!

Oh, ho ho!

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, my goodness.

Ruby slippers.

Oh.

I have always wanted a pair just like this.

So understated.

Ha!

Just my size, too.

Oh!

Oh, this is a good day so far.

OK. That's not--ohh.

[Chime] [Squeaking and thumping] Nope.

That doesn't work.

OK. Ahh.

Yeah!

I'm just like a grownup.

Ooh!

It's like being at sea.

Or falling--ha ha ha-- falling in love!

Woman: Queen's pawn to Queen's fifth.

OK. [Boys screaming] When I say Tweedle, you say Dee!

Tweedle!

Audience and Alice: Dee!

Tweedle!

Dee!

No!

No!

[Screaming] Tweedledum!

Audience and Alice: Tweedledum!

Tweedledum!

Tweedledum!

[Tweedles screaming] Ah!

It's a girl!

[Ding] [Laughter] Hi.

I'm Dee, and I am tall enough to ride all the rides.

Oh!

♪ He venido a decirte, oh ♪ Aah!

Tweedledee: That was pretty impressive!

So I'm only allergic to shellfish, 3 kinds of mold... Alice: OK. [Whistling] [Splat] Oh, ho ho ho!

My body is a wonderland!

i¡Bien fuerte!

I drank all my milk!

Aah!

Ha ha ha!

[Imitating klaxon] Contrariwise.

No how.

Contrariwise.

No how!

Contrariwise.

No how!

Quiet!

First boy.

No how!

Next boy.

Contrariwise!

Now.

Tweedles: You've begun wrong.

The first thing in a visit in a proper civilized society is to say, "How do you do?"

Yes.

How do you do?

And shake hands.

It's--ha!

Just...heh.

Ooh!

How do you do?

Aah!

How do-- Nnn, nnn, nnn!

How do-- Tck, tck, tck, tck!

Look at that!

Ah, boomp.

Sweeey!

Hey!

Darn it!

Aah!

Ohh!

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Aah!

Stop it!

Stop it!

Aah!

[Hip-hop music playing] All: Turn it up!

♪ ♪ Tweedledee and Tweedledum ♪ ♪ They got a problem ♪ ♪ 'Cause Tweedledum said ♪ ♪ Tweedledee had jacked up his rap ♪ ♪ Then out of the blue in a ribbon of blue ♪ ♪ Came a pretty young thing, a girl ♪ ♪ And Tweedledee and Tweedledum ♪ ♪ Straight up forgot their problems ♪ Smack, smack!

Agh!

[Whip cracks] ♪ Distorted voice: Feel the rhythm.

Alice: Aah!

Man: Oh, yeah!

Tango, tango, tango!

The international language of love according to Wiki-Wikipedia.

That's all we have time for.

Thank you.

♪ Oh!

Here we go!

Let's go!

♪ Ha ha ha!

[Cheering and applause] Do you think I'm pretty?

Tweedles: What?!

Do you think I'm pretty?

[Both scream] Mom!

Ugh!

Aah!

No would have been just fine.

OK. Bien, ¿qué vamos a hacer?

Bueno, hicimos eso acá... [Audience laughing] I think...

I think you're pretty... Aw.

smart!

White Knight: Away, ye serpents!

Aah!

Fly, ye nefarious!

Hie, ye, hence, ye heartbreakers!

And triumphant reentry of the super nice guy, who brings picnic baskets, and... Oh, you have got to be actually kidding me!

It's the helmet.

I forgot the helmet is what happened.

[Laughter] Oh, really?

[Laughter] No, no, I'm super into it.

I'm, like, ready to reinvest in the importance of helmet safety in a big way right now.

Um... Yeah, I'm really tall right now, though, so I think--let's do it.

Let's do it.

I think if you stand up, and I'll come by, and this is not actually a joke.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Great, great, great.

Yeah, yeah.

Just don't make any sudden moves or nothing.

Yes!

Big round of applause for saving my life!

[Cheering and applause] [Mumbling] [Grunting] Safe now!

[Cheering and applause] But you're not.

Ha!

And neither are you.

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: "Of shoes--ships-- sealing wax-- "Cabbages--and kings-- "Of why the sea is boiling hot-- and whether pigs have...a...a..." Adieu!

Adieu!

Ah.

Gesundheit and auf vedersen.

Nature calls!

No, no, no, no.

Duty.

Duty calls!

[Audience laughing] Ha ha ha!

[Audience laughing] Just a quick check-in, you and me, buddy.

Did I just say, "Duty" in a room full of, like, mostly grownups?

[Audience laughing] You don't think there's anybody recording, do you?

Because that would be kind of embarrassing to me.

Good.

Thanks.

I appreciate that check-in.

Anyway, uh, oh, and, uh, it's your move.

On to your next square.

[Chime] Until we meet again.

Ahoy!

Check!

Check!

Check!

Cheeeeeeck!

[Crash] Dismount!

[Cheering and applause] Aah!

Aah!

I'm OK!

I was wearing a helmet!

[Audience laughing] Alice: Thank you.

OK. Ahem.

[Thud] Woman: Queen's pawn to Queen's 6.

Can't get me, lights!

Ha!

OK. Vámonos.

OK. Oh!

Oh, how delightful.

Ha ha!

Some tea.

It's nice and cool, too.

I love tea.

Top 7 beverages of all time for sure.

Do you like tea?

Child: Uh-huh.

Can we have a tea party together?

Oh, amazing.

That's wonderful.

I love your poncho.

It is beautiful.

Thank you.

I'm gonna be queen very soon.

I don't know if you, like, know that's what's going on here right now, and when I'm queen, I am going to have dozens and dozens of tea parties.

You of course are invited.

Bring as many friends as you want.

We'll have tea and juice and cookies.

Shall I pour?

Yes.

Thank you.

[Bell tolling] It's very weak tea.

Let's see here.

But, um, delicious nonetheless.

Ha ha!

For you.

Ahem.

And pinkies up!

Yes.

Very--oh, look at those pinkies!

Very good.

Mmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mmm.

It's good.

And it's 6:00.

That's teatime.

[Muffled voice] You--you heard that too, yeah?

OK, um, I should probably go check that out.

Um, thank you so much-- and--oh, you didn't like it?

That's OK. That's OK. Don't worry.

We'll have lots of kinds of tea.

Thank you.

That was a great tea party.

Thank you.

Ha ha ha!

[Applause] Voice: Hi.

Ah!

Hmm.

Uhh.

No room, no room, no room, no room no room, no room!

No room, no room!

[Screaming] What?

You just-- Voice: Switch!

Yah!

Gah!

Switch, switch, switch, switch, switch, switch switch, switch, switch, switch.

Well, don't just do something.

Sit there!

[Audience laughing] You're doing great.

Hey!

It's time for tea.

It's happening now!

Yes, it is!

Alice: More tea.

Music!

♪ Hello!

Hi!

Comin' at you!

Hare: Please!

Hatter: Hit me!

De giorno!

De giorno!

Hello!

Come on, you!

Yeah!

Give me another!

Thank you.

Mine, please!

His totally.

Come on!

One more!

[Applause] [Babbling] [Alice humming] Hatter: Ohh!

[Imitating static] No room.

There's plenty of room.

[Speaking gibberish] Oh.

Oh.

OK. Ah.

Have some wine?

Oh, yes.

That'd be grand!

Catch!

Unh!

Enn, enn, enn.

Ppp!

Nice catch, both of you!

[Laughter] Heh heh.

Ping!

Doot, doot, doot, doot.

Ahh!

Pss!

[Glass breaks] [Audience laughing] [Sniffing] Ohh!

Ho ho ho!

Bone aperitif!

Chug-a-lug!

Oh.

I don't see any wine.

That's because there isn't any.

Well, that was very rude!

[Hatter and Hare speaking gibberish] [Audience laughing] Hatter: Shh!

Do you hear that?

Uh... No, no, I don't hear anything.

[Hare snoring] It's the Dormouse snoring.

Well, he just made that noise!

It's clearly you two making the noise!

Ay, Dios mío.

Why does everybody do that?

Both: Wake up, dormouse!

Alice: Oh!

Hare: We might as well get him up.

Hatter: I think so.

[Grunting] Come on.

Let's do it.

Oh, we got a big one here!

Hatter: Come on, buddy.

Heh heh heh.

And where we going?

Hare: Beep, beep, beep, beep.

♪ Thank you.

Oh, I like it.

Good idea.

[Snoring] Hop siddity hop siddity oop!

Chhk, chhk, chhk.

[Audience laughing] Oh!

Tickle, tickle, tickle!

[Audience laughing] Tickle, tickle, tickle!

[Muttering] [Snoring] Tickle, tickle, tickle!

Ahh, ahh, mmm.

Aah!

[Grunting] Hatter and Hare: Wake up!

Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Mmm!

Tastes like treacle!

Hatter and Hare: What?!

Tastes like treacle?!

Dormouse: Very, very yummy.

Sabroso.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Alice: Oh, a riddle!

[Snoring] [Audience laughing] I do think I can guess that.

Does that mean that you think that you can find out the answer to it?

Yes.

Then why don't you say what you mean?

I do.

At least I mean what I say.

It's the same thing, you know.

Hatter: Not the same thing.

Not the same thing a bit!

Why, you might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see."

You might just as well say, "I like what I get," is the same thing as "I get what I like."

[Snoring] Embarrassing.

Sorry.

[Snoring] Wake up, dormouse!

[Dormouse screaming] You might just as well say that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe."

Yes, it is the same thing with you, you somnambulant rodent!

You soporific, sleepified snoozy!

You non-nocturnal, narcoleptic nugget!

It's not naptime!

It's that other time.

Wake up!

And don't you dare-are-are-are go to sleep.

[Snoring] Ha ha ha!

Baa!

One sheep.

Don't you dare start counting.

He doesn't like a certain number.

What number?

You'll see.

Baa, baa!

Two sheep.

Don't you dare!

Baa, baa, baa!

3 sheep.

I'm warning you!

Baa, baa, baa, baa!

Hare: Just 4.

4 sheep.

Don't you dare go past 5!

Baa, baa, baa, baa, baa!

5 sheep!

Don't you dare go past 5!

Hare: Please stop, please stop.

Baa, baa, baa, baa, baa, ba-- 5 1/2 sheep.

I will stuff you in a teapot and pour boiling-- Dormouse and Alice: 5 3/4 sheep!

Hell hath no fury like my madness!

i¡Seis ovejas!

[Bell tolls] [Dramatic orchestral music playing] ♪ [Audience laughing] ♪ [Bell tolls] ♪ [Slowly] i¡Despiértate!

i¡Una silla!

[Bell tolls] [Slowly] Aah!

[Audience laughing] ♪ [Bell tolls] ♪ [Music stops] What is happening?

♪ [Bell tolls] ♪ [Audience laughing] ♪ [Bell tolls] Alice: 6:00 again?

[Others screaming] Hatter: It's 6:00!

Hare: Switch!

[Chime] Alice: Ooh!

Oh!

[Chime] ♪ Hatter, Hare, and Dormouse: Ahh.

Aah!

♪ Sss, sss, sss, sss, sss.

Ooh, whoo!

[Huffing] [Screaming] ♪ Sss, sss, sss, sss, sss.

Ooh, whoo!

Ahh!

Aah!

♪ Sss, sss, sss, sss, sss!

♪ [Sigh] [Cheering and applause] It's time for tea!

It's happening again!

Yes, it is!

♪ Don't touch that!

No, sorry, sorry, sorry.

There it goes.

Much better.

No, don't, don't, don't.

Hare: It's dangerous!

Oh!

Hey!

Voila!

♪ Alice: Just--whoa!

Oh!

♪ Ohh!

Aah!

Aah!

It's all right.

It's just Jaci.

OK. She makes the show go.

You like Jaci, right?

I'm OK. Aah!

Err!

Sorry!

No room!

Alice: There is plenty of room.

Have you figured out the answer to the riddle yet?

No.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Cats and bats or bats and cats.

Gatos y murciélagos, murciélagos y gatos.

Aah!

Aah!

Oh, I don't know.

I haven't the slightest idea.

Nor I.

Not a clue.

Ay, Dios mío, I think you all should find something better to do with your time than wasting it asking me riddles that have no answers.

Aah!

Ohh!

If you knew Time as well as I... Yeah!

you wouldn't talk about wasting it.

It is him.

I dare say you've never even spoken to Time!

Thank you.

Well, no.

Perhaps-- perhaps not, but I do know that in order to make music one must beat time.

[Others screaming] Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

[Yawns] That accounts for it.

He won't stand beating, you know?

Now, if you'd only kept on good terms with Time, he might do just about anything you asked with the clock.

For instance, say it was 9:00 in the morning, just about time to begin lessons.

Blagh!

Huh?

Oh, no, thank you.

Eh.

Well, you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and then round goes the clock.

In a twinkling, it's half past 1:00.

Half past 1:00?

Time for lunch!

Hare: Lunch!

All: Lunch!

We never get to have lunch.

Alice: ¿Por qué?

Porque we quarreled last March, Time and I, just before the March Hare went cuckoo, you know.

Ah ah!

You have the most fetching eyes.

[Snoring] It was at a concert given for the Red Queen, and I was to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat."

Dormouse!

Heh heh heh!

Milady!

Hare!

[Accordion playing] ♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little bat ♪ ♪ How I wonder what you're at ♪ ♪ Up above the world you fly ♪ ♪ Like a tea tray in the sky ♪ Everybody sing!

♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little bat ♪ Hatter: Come on!

You know the words!

All: ♪ How I wonder what you're at ♪ Hatter: Ah!

Very sweet, everyone.

All right, all right.

March Hare, put me down, please!

Hands, please, hands!

Hands.

Hands, yes, your hands.

Hands, hands, hands, hands!

And aah!

Ahh.

[Cheering and applause] Oh, yeah!

Come on.

Come on!

Keep it going!

Keep it going!

And...silence!

Hare: Ohh, hoo hoo!

Hatter: It's OK, it's OK, it's OK. Well, I had scarcely finished singing when the Red Queen, bawled out, "He's murdering the time!

"Off with his head!

"Off with his head!

Off with his"-- [Cheering and applause] Alice: Oh.

Oh, my.

That is just awful!

Ever since that, Time won't do a thing I ask!

[Muttering] It's always... [Bell tolls] 6:00 again?

[Others screaming] Switch!

♪ What?

No, not again.

And this one's faster?

No, no.

OK, OK, thank you so much.

Thank you for all your time.

Um...hello?

Somebody, let me out, please!

Ooh, wah!

Alice: Ugh!

[Others scream] i¡Abre la puerta!

i¡Por favor, ayúdame!

i¡Señor Dodgson, ayúdeme!

Ahh!

[Dormouse snoring] [Cheering and applause] It's time for tea!

It's happening now!

Yes, it is!

I... Ahh, ahh.

♪ Yeah, but what if I take this over here?

I like that.

Oh.

Not that.

What if-- No, no, no, these people have been sitting for hours.

Got it.

♪ [Audience laughing] Hatter: This chair... has a peak.

[Laughter] I'm--I'm--ohh!

Ha ha ha!

Ha!

That's-- All: Sorry!

[Laughter] Tickety-tackety-toc, The Hatter offended-ded-ded the clock.

All: Bbbb, bbbb, bbbb!

Now the clock's stuck at 6, his mind turned t'bricks, Tickety-tackety-- [All snap and whistle] [Bell tolling] Aggggh.

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Is it 6:00 still?

[Screaming] [Crash] Alice: Oh, oh, oh!

Oh!

Aah!

OK.

Thank you, um, so much for your hospitality.

You're welcome.

This tea party has been really-- We know!

[Audience laughing] Yes, um, but it's my time to go now, so if-- It's never time to go!

It's never, not ever time to go!

Oh, that it were!

No, it's always... [Bell tolls] We just did this.

No, no.

I don't-- It can't be right.

I can't have more tea!

Is this a waiver?

I already signed a waiver.

Mr. Dodgson!

Mr. Dodgson, stop it!

Stop it!

Stop it!

Stop it!

Stop it!

All: Noooooooooo!

Alice: Mr. Dodgson?

¿Señor Dodgson?

Dodgson: Yes, Alice?

Where did you go?

I am here.

I'm always here.

No, you went away.

No, Alice.

I never went away.

You did.

No, I'm here.

Yes.

I see you.

Well, where is here?

Where you are, always I am there.

No, no, Alice.

No, I'm actually-- I'm actually right here.

I'm actually right-- right below you.

Y-your other below.

Oh!

What do you want, Alice?

I want to go... To go?

I want to go to-- To--to the beginning?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

No!

To the end then?

I don't know.

I think I'm done.

Heh.

I don't think I want to go forward anymore, so I think I'm just gonna sit right here.

Porque estoy agotada y cansada.

And I am definitely, definitely done!

[Sobs] Jaci?

Jaci: Yes, Mr. Dodgson?

Jaci, would you cue the... would you cue the cat, please, Jaci?

OK. Um, Dylan, please put the cat in the bag and stand by.

Dylan: The cat is in the bag and standing by.

Lights 186, sound 400, and cat...go.

[Cat purring] ♪ [Audience laughing] I'm the cat in the bag.

[Laughter] Meow, meow, meow!

Is this really how it ends?

Yee, yee.

Rahh!

Oh.

Cheshire Cat.

Because Edgar Allan Poe wrote on both.

¿Qué?

That's the end of the riddle.

Because Edgar Allan Poe wrote on a writing desk and about a raven.

I'm just so... At the end of your rope?

I'll never be a queen.

Nunca.

Alicia... you must pretend harder.

Shutting your eyes tighter and tighter still is always of some use.

Oh.

It's just so overwhelming, this whole world.

Then... you must look to the moon.

You just have to dig yourself out, jump through a loop or 3 and climb above it.

My dear, if you don't climb, you'll never get above it.

You must clear away the muck... to get above the mire.

The muck and the mire.

Whether you are on top of this yarn or this yarn is on top of you all depends upon your purrrrr-spective.

Wait, wait, wait.

Come back, please... [Piano playing] ♪ Cheshire Cat: Then you must look to the moon.

♪ You just have to dig yourself out.

You must clear away the muck.

♪ Jump through a loop or 3 and climb above it.

♪ [Cheering and applause] ♪ Whether you are on top of this yarn or this yarn is on top of you... [Echoing] ♪ [Sighs] Whee!

Ha!

[Cheering and applause] Alice, voice-over: Whether I am on top of this yarn or this yarn is on top of me, all depends on my perspective.

♪ Whee!

♪ Ha ha ha!

Whee!

♪ Aah!

Ha ha ha!

[Applause] ♪ Ahh.

Ha ha!

[Cheering and applause] Thank you!

Thank you!

Heh heh.

One shot at a time!

Heh heh heh!

One shot at a time!

Uh...Wicket?

Wicket?

Wicket?

Where's my Wicket?

Wicket: Right here.

There you are.

Late as usual.

Get over there!

Aah!

Alice: Oh, no!

Hedgehogs!

[Hedgehogs chattering] That's right.

Get on down.

Go on down the green.

There you are.

You up there, croquet?

Oh, sí, por favor, your majesty.

Muy bien.

Hedgehogs!

[Hedgehogs chattering] Are you whining?

Good.

Get her down.

Alice: Oh.

Thank you.

Hedgehog: OK.

Here we go.

One, two.

Red Queen: Thank you.

Finally.

Alice: Thank you.

Here you are, your mallet.

Beware the flamingo's bite.

It's sharp.

Catch!

OK. Nice catch.

Thank you.

You, come here.

Nooooo!

Oh, no.

Mummy has a snack for you.

[Hedgehogs chattering] Snack.

Yeah.

Heh heh.

Oh, oh, oh!

Did I say snack?

Yeah!

I meant smack!

Oh, I fell for it!

Yes, you did.

You're gonna get it now.

Heh heh heh!

Shot!

Aah!

Alice: Oh.

Nice shot, your majesty!

Thank you.

And...shot!

Ah, yo pensé que... No, no, no.

[Shushing] OK. Shh, shh, shh!

Shot!

Shot!

Shot!

Shot!

Shot!

[Bell ringing] Point!

That's how it's done.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

And you.

Thank you.

Your majesty?

Hmm.

I--I--I thought it was one shot at a time.

Ha ha ha!

For a pawn, yes.

For a queen, it's one shot at a time but as many in a row as is necessary.

Heh heh heh.

[Audience laughing] Your shot, pawn!

OK. Um...Señor Hedgehog-- hee hee hee-- ¿Dónde estás?

Red Queen: Where is he?

Anyone see, like, a-- a fur-- Oh, you got called out!

[Hedgehog groaning] That's OK, that's OK. Come here.

Look, look, look.

He's so nice.

No, no, no.

Ven, papi.

Solamente besitos.

Besitos, besitos dulces.

Tres, dos, uno, shot.

Ah.

Oh, gracias.

[Waltz playing] [Audience laughing] ♪ Not yet!

♪ Whoa!

Ho ho!

♪ [Applause] ♪ Red Queen: What?!

No, no, no!

No, no, no, no!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!

Nice shot, miss!

Miss?!

Ohh.

Miss!

Heh heh.

Just as I adjudged.

A miss.

I win!

No, your majesty, we're tied.

Oh, Nonsense, Miss Miss.

I am tied to nothing and no one but victory!

But you took more hits than me.

Actually, I gave more hits.

Not only am I victorious, I'm also generous, which is just as it should be.

Thank you!

Hooray for me!

Whatever.

Hooray.

Wins every time.

Yay.

Red Queen: Hey!

Hooray for me!

[Bell ringing] Me!

[Applause] Thank you!

Great crowd.

What, not cheering?

Off with your...hedgehog!

Ha!

[Hedgehogs chattering] Thought I didn't see you, huh?

Off with you later.

Bye!

All rules and no play.

She doesn't even know how to play croquet.

Pfft.

Hss.

Pfft!

[Audience laughing] Maybe she forgot.

Maybe she forgotten-ed.

Those who have not practice-ed can't play.

♪ They've forgotten-ed ♪ ♪ Forgotten-ed, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ Oh, oh, oh.

There was another thing for me to practice.

I wasn't doing too-- Trade you?

Ahh.

Here you go.

That's for you.

Um, and this is Rubén.

He's had a tough life.

Take care of him.

Adiós, Rubén.

Ha ha!

OK.

Still no?

No.

OK. That's OK. Um, that's OK. [Plays sputtering note] [Playing major scale] ♪ Meow!

[Audience laughing] [Playing melody] ♪ [Purring] ♪ [Plays loud note] [Cheering and applause] Am I addressing the White Queen?

If you call that addressing.

It's not my notion of the thing at all.

I'm already completely clothed.

Yes, you do seem very well-attired.

A-tired?

On the contrary!

♪ I feel full of vim and vinegar ♪ ♪ V-I-M and...vinegar ♪ [Audience laughing] Yes.

You do seem much-- Younger?

See, I told you I know how to get to where you are.

That's the effect of living backwards.

Well, do--oh.

Do you think perhaps you could tell me exactly where I am?

Uh, yeah!

Uh, easy.

You are precisely in between the very next thing and what just happened.

[Audience laughing] [Humming] Hey, White Queen?

Yeah?

What you doing?

Oh, getting younger and younger still.

No.

I meant with the basket.

White Queen: Oh!

Planting a garden.

Um, what are you planting?

Eggplant!

[Audience laughing] Of course.

Hee hee hee!

Um, um... Oh.

It's time for you to move forward to your second-to-the-last square.

Oh!

But also, also, um, also, did you know, um, um, um, did you know about today's dress-up day?

No.

I-- Dress up!

Aah!

Ha ha ha!

♪ V-I-M and vinegar ♪ I love you!

Bye!

Bye!

[Audience laughing] Oh, ho ho ho!

[Applause] Hee hee!

[Chime] How exactly like an egg he looks.

[Laughter] It's very annoying being called an egg!

Oh.

No, I'm sorry.

I just meant that you look like an egg, and some eggs are very-- Oh!

Woman: Queen's pawn to Queen's 7.

State your name and business!

Me llamo Alicia.

Alicia?

Ajá.

That's a stupid enough name.

What's it mean?

Well, must a name mean something?

Of course it must!

My name, for instance, means the shape I am, and what a delicious shape it is too!

With a name like Alicia, you might be any shape.

Well, almost any, anyhow, but I'm not too proud.

Hss.

[Audience laughing] Ahh.

There.

You may even shake my hand.

Oh.

Ha ha!

Heh heh heh.

Hss!

Why do you sit up there all by yourself?

Because there's nobody up here with me.

Did you think I didn't know the answer to that one?

Go on, ask me another.

Well, don't you think you'd be safer down here?

No!

I do not think I'd be safer down there.

Down there is peril.

Down there is... misery... and heartache.

But if I did, you know, fall, you see, the king has made certain promises.

Oh, oh, yes, "And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't-- Men and horses indeed.

Sent from the king to shore up my shattered shards.

But they couldn't!

Couldn't what?

Uh... You are very clever with words.

Heh.

Oh.

Well, one has to be in order to get them to do what you want.

I wondered perhaps if you could help me with a poem I once heard.

Yes!

Yes.

OK. Ahem.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves, Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

OK!

That's enough to start with.

Um, "Brillig" means 4:00 in the afternoon.

Just about the time when you start broiling things for dinner.

Oh, I see.

Yep.

What about "toves"?

"Toves"?

Uh, something like badgers.

They're something like lizards, and they're something like, uh, corkscrews.

Oh!

They must be very curious-looking creatures.

They are that.

Also--heh heh-- they make their nests under sundials, heh heh, and--heh heh--they live on cheese.

Cheese!

Yeah.

Oh!

What about to gyre and gimble?

To gyre means to move about like a gyroscope, and to gimble means to make holes like a gimlet.

Oh, oh, oh, oh!

And the wabe must be the grass-plot surrounding the sundial.

Of course it is.

Because it goes a long way before it and a long way behind it.

And a long way beyond it?

Exactly so.

Mmm.

Mimsy is flimsy and miserable.

A borogove is a thin, shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round it, something like a live mop.

Bbblll, bbblll, bbblll.

Ha ha ha!

What about mome raths?

Oh.

A rath is a sort of a green pig.

Mome...I'm not too certain about.

Oh!

I think it's short for from home, meaning...that they had lost their way.

Oh, yes, home.

You know, heh heh, I could recite poetry as well as the next fellow if it comes to that.

Oh, it needn't come to that.

Ha ha!

Speaking of needn't, you needn't go on saying such things.

Pfft.

In winter when the fields are white, I...sing this song for your delight.

Only I don't sing it.

Yes, I can see that.

If you can see whether I am singing or no, you have sharper eyes than any.

Shh!

Mm-hmm.

[Birds chirping] In spring... when woods are getting green...

I'll try and tell you what I mean.

In summer when the days are long, perhaps then you'll understand this song.

In autumn... when the leaves are brown... take pen and ink and write it down.

I will... if I can remember it that long.

Is that all?

That's all.

Good-bye.

Well, good-bye?

Till we meet again.

I shouldn't know you even if we did meet again!

You're so exactly like everyone else.

Oh.

Um, the face is generally what one goes by.

Exactly, and your face is the same as everyone has-- two eyes, nose in the middle, mouth down below.

Now...if you had two eyes on one side of the nose, ear in the middle, mouth up above, that would be something!

[Audience laughing] That would be different!

Well, it wouldn't look very nice.

Wait until you've tried.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

[Gasps] Ha ha ha!

Ohh, ohh, ohh!

[Screaming] [Audience murmuring] [Applause] [Sirens] [Audience laughing] [Laughter] [Laughter] [Laughter] [Applause] [Laughter] [Applause] [Crickets chirping] How are you getting on, my dear?

It's not much further now, but, um...

I must go back.

This is the end of my move.

Gracias.

You've only a few yards to go.

It's just down that little hill and over that little brook, and then you'll be a queen.

But you'll, um-- you'll stay, won't you?

You'll stay and see me off before I go?

Here.

You'll, you'll wait here, and you'll--you'll wave this hhnn--hhnn--hhnn-- [Blowing nose] [Audience laughing] Alice: Ha ha ha!

Hee hee hee!

[Blowing] [Audience laughing] You'll wave this handkerchief?

Ha ha!

I think it will encourage me, you see.

Of course I'll wait.

And, um, thank you for coming so far.

You're gonna make quite a queen, you know that?

Queen Alicia.

M-m-m-m--ahem.

My queen.

[Ding] [Laughter] [Neighing] Ohh!

I'm all right!

[Applause] White Rabbit: Oh, my ears and whiskers!

i¡Ay, Dios mío!

I'm on time!

Yay!

White Rabbit: Citizens and gentlefolk, bishops and pawns, rooks and knights, prepare ye now for the Royal Coronation Ball for the Pawn, who will very shortly now be crowned a queen.

[Cheering and applause] Bring on the ball!

Ha ha ha ha!

[Latin dance music playing] ♪ [Needle scratches record] Alice: Ohh!

[White Rabbit wheezes] Ooch!

[Wheezing] I'm OK.

Here we go!

♪ White Rabbit: Hup!

♪ Alice: i¡Ándale!

♪ [Whooping] ♪ [Cheering and applause] Hoo hoo hoo hoo!

♪ [Cheering and applause] ♪ [Cheering and applause] ♪ [Music fades] [Piano playing] [Cheering continues] Ahh.

After such a ball as this, I shall think nothing of traveling through squares.

[Chime] Your regal majesty!

Cheshire Cat.

As cool as the cool side of the pillow.

[Chime] Cheshire Cat, when I become queen, can you tell me where I'm to go next?

That depends on where it is you want to get to.

Oh, I don't know anymore.

Hmm.

Then it doesn't really matter which direction you go.

Brrroowww!

Rrroww!

Hee hee hee!

[Drum playing] ♪ [Applause] Ahh!

Ha ha ha!

Woman: The pawn becomes queen.

[Cheering and applause] How to proceed now.

[Waves crashing] Red Queen: One stroke at a time.

One stroke at a time!

[Laughter] With grace and dignity and, above all, purpose.

You are a queen now.

It is imperative that you behave in accordance with your place and station in life.

You have responsibilities, expectations.

Let your behavior reflect the serious nature of your position.

Oh, ho ho ho!

Tempt not cataclysm and catastrophe with idle laughter and whimsy.

All rules and no play.

Yeah.

No, thank you.

No, thank you?

Uh-uh.

Pbbbt!

Aah!

Back to your square, pawn!

[Wind blowing] Your majesty!

I can't swim!

[Baby crying] Oh!

Ha ha ha!

[Applause] Am I addressing the White Queen?

If you call that addressing.

It's not my notion of the thing at all.

You keep getting younger and younger.

[Babbling] I wish I could go backward, too.

Well, of course you can.

Just draw a long, deep breath and shut your eyes.

No, I can't.

Try!

[Waves rolling, gulls crying] Ohh!

It's no use.

One can't just believe impossible things.

No... one can't, perhaps... but... [Waves crashing] Dodgson: Two.

Two always can.

I...daresay you haven't had much practice, but when I was your age, I always did it half an hour a day.

Sometimes, I've believed as many as 6 impossible things b-b-before breakfast.

But how?

Practice.

Plenty of practice.

[Toy piano playing] ♪ You do make quite a queen.

♪ Queen Alicia.

M-m-m-my queen.

♪ Your rabbit hole awaits, your majesty.

But you'll stay and see me off?

It shan't be long.

You'll, um, wait and wave this handkerchief?

I think it will encourage me, you see?

Por supuesto, esperaré, Alicia.

♪ Long has paled ♪ ♪ That sunny sky ♪ Both: ♪ Echoes fade ♪ ♪ And memories die ♪ ♪ Autumn frosts have slain July ♪ Dodgson: Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies... Never seen by waking eyes.

Ever drifting down the stream-- Lingering in the golden gleam-- Life... what is it... but a dream?

Or something like one.

Children: ♪ Twinkle, twinkle, little star ♪ ♪ How I wonder what you are ♪ ♪ Up above the world so high ♪ ♪ Like a treetop in the sky ♪ ♪ [Cheering and applause] ♪ [Cheering and applause continues] ♪ Hi!

It's me again.

Lindsey.

We met before.

Anyway, before I take you inside for a closer look at the theater, I wanted to tell you a little bit more about Lookingglass.

♪ Lookingglass is one of over 200 theater companies in the city of Chicago, and we are one of the 6 Chicago theaters to receive the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.

6 Tonys.

That's more than any city in the country.

Look it up!

Lookingglass is an ensemble theater company.

That means we're a group of actors, designers, directors, storytellers, who season after season create work out of thin air.

In our 35 years of existence, we've created more than 70 world premiere productions.

Sometimes, I've believed as many as 6 impossible things b-b-before breakfast.

Whiting: Our "Alice" explores the tension between the rush we feel when we're younger to grow and go out into the world and the wisdom that we gain when we're older, hopefully, that growing up is not something to be rushed but cherished, and it all came out of the brilliant mind of ensemble member David Catlin.

My first question is why this story, or why the "Alice" stories?

Back a billion years ago when we were in college-- At the beginning of time.

At the beginning of time, a bunch of us were in an acting class together, and one of the people in the acting class was a guy named David Schwimmer.

In 1987, I was a student at Northwestern University in Chicago, and I had just directed this production of "Alice in Wonderland," this original adaptation by Andre Gregory and the Manhattan Project, a very physical production with 6 actors.

I produced it off campus with my own money, my Bar Mitzvah savings, and it became a little cult hit.

Next thing we knew, that summer, we went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and performed for two weeks.

It was a life-changing experience and, I think, one of the great reasons that we're here now as a theater company on Michigan Avenue in the city of Chicago 35 years later.

At Lookingglass, when we're doing proposals for plays, as you know, we ask the question why does the story need to be told, and why do I need to tell it?

We thought it would be great to potentially return to these "Alice" stories that Schwimmer had introduced us to.

Right about the time that this is happening, I had just become a father myself.

I was struck by how important each stage in life is, right?

The story is a lot about growing up and in a way reminding ourselves what to avoid about growing up and what to hold on to.

Alice steps through the looking glass and falls down a rabbit hole, and falling down the rabbit hole, there is-- which any expectant parent can recognize-- there is a sound in there, as she's falling into Wonderland after she's kind of had this long, floating experience in the Sea of Tears, which feels very amniotic to me.

Mm-hmm.

She's coming down, and in the soundscape is this "Wah, wah, wah" sound that is an actual fetal heartbeat.

[Fetal heartbeat] [Waves crashing] ♪ When she lands there, she meets the White Queen and the Red Queen, who are scaled at the kind of ratio that an infant looking up at their parent out of the crib might feel, and you have the dialogue of the play.

The conversation is between rational and irrational behavior, the White Queen representing the beauty of irrational thought, you know, like, the idea, to me, many of the important things in life, like staring at the moon and eating ice cream and riding on roller coasters and owning dogs, that's all irrational.

Right.

Doesn't make sense.

Yeah.

Doesn't make sense but deeply important, and we need the rational argument, as well, that the Red Queen presents, and so we have this conversation that's looming over Alice, and then, you know, one of the first squares she steps into is the Caterpillar square, and to me, the Caterpillar is the larval stage of becoming a butterfly, that it's all legs and questions.

How, how, how, why?

Catlin: That to me was the toddler stage.

Oh, yes.

I--even before he saw the show, I was like, "How does he know that scene?

"He's doing exactly that scene of, like, 'What, what, what, what?'"

I was like, "Catlin knew what he was doing, man.

That's a toddler."

White Knight: Nonsense!

Catlin: To me, the White Knight is that first interaction with a grownup who's not a parent, that is, you know, maybe it's your second-grade teacher or the kind of goofy uncle or something that captivates us with a kind of nonsense and doesn't have to have all the responsibility and can be very compelling to us.

And the Tweedles, in the book, they talk about these two schoolboys, and there's a line in there "And then suddenly, they were dancing!"

All: Turn it up!

To me, that harkened to the preadolescent first crush, where our heart is kind of taken by somebody, and those awkward dances where we think we have this fantastic virtuosity in our sixth-grade dance.

But really we're just flossing.

Yeah.

We're just flossing.

And then we go to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, and it's that first grownup party that you've dreamt about and the idea that the Tea Party, that it's always 6:00, that it's never ending, that you're in this kind of purgatory, that you're trapped there.

And then thinking about that threshold that we cross between childhood and adulthood, where we lose somebody, that inevitable, immutable moment where somebody we care about dies and we feel the grief of that.

That makes us old, right?

This young girl is now more grownup.

And so, you know, by the time she gets across the board, she's older and is now ready and then has the kind of big celebratory moment, the Coronation Ball.

[Cheering, Latin music playing] And then after that, it's like, "What next?"

You know, that I think we as grownups sort of feel like, it's like "I'm a grownup."

"Oh, God.

What do I do?"

"What do I do now?"

Yeah.

No.

Ow!

Sorry.

Sorry.

[Audience laughing] No room!

There is plenty of room!

I really do feel like actors are the purveyors of faith... Hmm.

you know.

That it's our job to be here now as aware as we can possibly be and to take the first step.

To take the first step and encourage--encourage everyone to come along with us by taking that first step.

I'm mad, you're mad, we're all mad here.

I injured myself.

I tore my meniscus and had to leave the show, and in my time after and since, I love that I get to be here, part of this conversation, even though I'm not in the production that will be televised.

It's nice to be in the family and to be in this tradition that--this began in 2005?

Yep.

Yep.

And we all get to say, "Ah.

I added my touch of magic in these legs of this amazing voyage."

Oh, yeah, man.

Your prints are all over it.

And having a long association with it, you can sort of see all of the things that other people have brought to it, which is very exciting.

And it is true that it is not just the people that you see onstage that are doing the lifting.

There is a crew that also has-- they've got crew covers, and those crew covers have crew covers, and, like, we're just constantly training people in and out of the show.

So the role of Alice in this production and in many productions previously has been double cast.

Molly Hernandez is the person who you saw tonight.

I am also an Alice that you would see on other nights, and the reason that we do that is just, like, it's just really hard.

It's just really hard to do 8 times a week in ways that you would expect, like, the body and also in dumb ways.

Like, I got a paper cut on my hand, and that seems really annoying and small, but if you have to hold yourself up by your hand, that's a big deal.

Queens are ever so full of poise, graceful and balanced.

Oh, I should so like to be a queen.

Dodgson: So you shall.

So you shall.

Off you go then.

Down the rabbit hole with you.

The design of this show is something else.

It really is.

From the circus elements and the rigging and all of that to the costumes and to the scenic elements and the lights, the way sound functions both recorded and live.

Just the amount of work and planning and conceiving and collaboration that goes into that is kind of incredible.

Lookingglass has a really long tech.

Rally long tech, longer than really any other kind of regional theater that I've worked at.

We need the time-- when we put together sets, lights, sound, actors, costumes, we need the time to make those organic discoveries, you know.

One of my favorite moments in the play from a storytelling point of view, from an acting point of view, from a scenery lighting point of view is the end of the tea party.

Oh!

With the gongs.

Yeah, interesting!

Right after that is another moment, where, as an actor, like, I know, that was building to a crescendo, but then, all of a sudden, everything goes away, and you're left as an actor just, like, alone on the stage asking for help.

It's such a powerful moment, whereas, like, I just screamed my head off, went through the Tea Party, and that was totally crazy, and now everything is gone and stripped away, and I'm asking for help, and I'm sort of all alone in this, and then a little teeny, little bit of light.

Yeah.

And you're alone in the beginning in darkness.

Total darkness.

In total darkness.

And so it feels--there's a really freeing moment as an actor.

This theater company that we've nurtured over 35 years is really my artistic home and where my heart is.

I would say that I'd always had a love and passion for the theater, particularly ensemble theater.

The best idea in the room wins, and I don't care if it's coming from an actor, a writer, a director, a member of the crew, member of house staff, right?

It doesn't matter.

Everyone is so about making this thing that we're all making together the best it can be.

The work we do are called plays.

Mm-hmm.

Right?

It's telling, and that spirit and that sense of play is vital to what we do,, and I think that's also compelling for an audience to be part of.

To remind them of that.

♪ ♪ ♪