(Image via @umassd_theatreco/Instagram)
Staff Writer: Brian Galindo
Email: bgalindo@umassd.edu
UMass Dartmouth Theatre Company (also simply known as “TCo”) started December 2023 off right by producing a classic tale in a way you probably haven’t seen before.
Alice in Wonderland by the Manhattan Project was hosted in CVPA 153 on Friday, December 1st, at 7 PM as well as Saturday, December 2nd, at 2 PM and 7 PM.
The play is an experimental take on the story of Alice, and TCo’s production was evident of this.
In an interview with the director, Joe Marques, he described the production as “very different in terms of directing.” He further described it as “a very collaborative process,” elaborating that the cast would bring in new angles that he “really loved.”
The cast was profoundly attached to the show, as their energy could be felt through every scene, line of dialogue, and piece of blocking & choreography. The ensemble casting of the show also allowed every actor to have a role in nearly every scene, allowing them to really plant their feet in the show.
Crystal Zheng played the titular Alice, and her childlike demeanor in the role brought a lot of energy to the character. Other prominent roles included:
- Leah Dunn as the Red King
- Tyler Murphy as the Mad Hatter
- Tyler Gula as the Caterpillar and later as Humpty
- Trevie Lopes as the Cheshire Cat
- Kaylah Jackson-Brown as the White Queen
- Roxie Hawley as the White Rabbit
Though all played many, many roles within the show.
Notably, the cast for this show does feature a new, positive trend in campus theatre.
In previous years, there would rarely be a casting overlap between TCo and the other campus production company, 20 Cent Fiction. Multiple actors in Alice had previously done shows for 20 Cent Fiction, most notably Tyler Murphy and Tyler Gula, both of whom did Rocky Horror just a bit over a month before.
Hopefully, this trend will continue, and the history of separation between the companies will no longer exist.
Interestingly, the play was shown not in the campus center’s auditorium but in CVPA room 153. In my interview with Joe, he explained why he chose the smaller space.
“I feel it works more in an intimate space, better than a huge space like the auditorium.”
The intimate space was definitely in the show’s favor, as its repetition, physical humor, and use of the whole room were significantly improved by having a smaller space. Rather than trying to compensate with mics and technical equipment in the auditorium, the same show was done more comfortably in CVPA 153 with just as much passion and care.
The smaller space also did not affect ticket sales, as opening night saw the aisles of CVPA 153 filled to the brim.
The show was met by a crowd filled with energy, which gave a lot of applause, laughs, and gasps, as needed by the performance. When it ended, bows were met by uproarious cheers from each and every member of the audience.
Before finishing my conversation with Joe, I asked if there was anything else I should know to prepare myself before the show.
“Expect the unexpected,” he concluded. “It’s a wild ride.”
And a wild ride it was. The show knew when and how to grab and hold your attention, even during its faster-paced scenes. It never felt too hard to follow nor too low-energy to enjoy. Joe’s direction, along with the actors’ work, took an exciting show concept and truly made the best of it.
If you want to keep up with UMass Dartmouth Theatre Company, you can find them on Instagram at @umassd_theatreco!