10 SIGNAL TRIBUNE
CULTURE A 16, 2013 Alice in Wonderland adaptation cleverly incorporates characters from Peter Pan UGUST
Daniel Adams Culture Writer
When it was offered to me to write this review on a brand-new show entitled Ravens and Writing Desks, I sheepishly admit that I became overly excited because I, being fond of calling myself the world’s most devoted Alice in Wonderland fan, immediately recognized the title of this piece as a reference to the Mad Hatter and his eternally unanswered riddle to Alice: Why is a raven like a writing-desk? Wow! The opportunity to view a newly written movement piece designed by Post Mortem Movement Theatre piqued my interest, and I accepted the assignment wholeheartedly. The Garage Photo by Devin Workman Theatre, working in combination with Clayton Steacker as the energy-infused White Rabbit and Tian Walker as Alice Alive Theatre, is the venue where Post
in Post Mortem Movement Theatre’s production of Ravens and Writing Desks
Mortem is performing Ravens and Writing Desks throughout the month of August. I arrived at the theatre doors at 7th Street and Long Beach Boulevard for the 8pm performance early, allowing myself time to street-park, feed the meter of course (no one gets free parking in Los Angeles, after all), and made my way into the theatre. Now, in the past, I myself have performed in theatres so small the Dormouse would’ve moved out of them to sleep in a teapot for better comfort, but I have to take my hat off to Garage and Alive theatres for making their home inside one of the smallest performance spaces I’ve encountered. But the issue of space should never deter one from enjoying a live performance! I grabbed a program and was delighted to see the list of characters I adored so much, including Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and her majesty the ever-murderous, trumpeting, Queen of Hearts. The list continued with March Hare of course, The Caterpillar, certainly, and Dormouse, Father Williams, Peter, Wendy, The Bear, The Faun and The Fox. Wait a moment! Had I read that correctly? Peter (Pan?) and Wendy? And The BEAR? There’s no bear encountered in Alice’s trip through Wonderland! And then I read… Director’s Note: “The piece you are about to see was inspired by the works of Lewis Carol but is not a direct retelling of Alice in Wonderland.” (Note to Garage Theatre: Please check the spelling on Mr. Carroll’s name and reprint, thanks.) Ah, now I understood better what I was in for; and there is something wonderful about viewing reinterpretations of classic works. Well, we got exactly that with Angela A. Lopez’s and Ryan McClary’s macabre writing, vision, and choreography in Ravens and Writing Desks. Forget all you know, or think you know, about Alice in Wonderland and start anew, because this is not exactly Lewis Carroll’s fanciful tale of the growth-and-shrink serum-imbibing curious “7 and ½
exactly” year-old. A notable performance in this movement piece was that of Tian Walker as Alice. She really put her all into her dance, movement and expression in playing our heroine in search of herself. And it cannot be easy to play a girl who loses who she used to be while traveling through a Wonderland of uncertainly and confusion. Dancing and playing alongside her as the Queen of Hearts is another talented young performer, Jessica Rae Slagle, who very much impressed with her presence onstage. Jessica took over the show when she entered as the villainous monarch, and there was no doubt at that point who was in charge. Her dance performance with the rest of the cast to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll” is not to be missed! Alexis Udo-Udoma was charming and performed wonderfully as Wendy (yes, Peter Pan’s Wendy). She stood out even while portraying the sensitive side of Pan’s friend before us despite the craziness going on around her in Wonderland/Neverland. I raise a cup of tea to the following performers as well who really made their marks in the show: Clayton Steacker as the energy-infused White Rabbit, Sayaka Miyatani as the “head” of The Caterpillar (another wonderfully weird performance not to be missed), and Cory Storey as the March Hare. Everyone in the cast really gave their all and believed in what they were doing to provide an energetic, interesting and fun dance performance for the audience. Mixed with some fantastic song choices and interesting (if not oftentimes creepy, strange, sometimes sensual) choreography and lighting effects, I think Ravens and Writing Desks could very well answer that unanswered riddle. But you’ll have to discern that for yourself, now won’t you? Ravens and Writing Desks runs Aug. 2– 31, and performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with Thursdays offering 2-for-1 tickets. Performances take place at The Garage Theatre, 251 East 7th St. Tickets are $20 on opening and closing nights, $18 general admission on all other nights, and $15 students/seniors/teachers. Visit thegaragetheatre.org, email contact@ thegaragetheatre.org, or call (562) 433-8337.
FOLBA
Pet of the Week:
Olivia
Lovely 2-year-old Olivia’s human moved and had to surrender her to our shelter. According to the surrender form, Olivia’s very sweet and great with children, other cats and other animals. But here at the shelter, she’s frightened at suddenly living in a cage, despite her friendliness to the shelter staff members, who offer loving care. She needs a loving, stable environment to help her feel safe again. Meet Olivia at the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A502042.
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