Music & Lyrics by William Wade; book by Frank Blocker
A modern version of the classic tale. Alice falls down the rabbit hole via the New York City subway system and finds herself a grown-up in a child’s allegory. Her adult problems wreak havoc in Wonderland, threatening to destroy them all. Liberally adapted from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass.
Characters
ALICE
WHITE RABBIT / DORMOUSE
CATERPILLAR / MARCH HARE
TWEEDLEDEE
TWEEDLEDUM
MOCK TURTLE
WHITE KNIGHT
DUCHESS
THE COOK
CHESHIRE CAT
MAD HATTER
KING OF HEARTS
QUEEN OF HEARTS
Song List
ACT I
“A Fairy Tale to Call My Own” – Alice
“Anything Can Happen” – Company
“The Walrus and the Carpenter” – Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Men
“Off With Their Heads” – Red Queen
“I Don’t Know Why” White Knight
“Whistle Your Worries Away” – Cheshire Cat, Girls
“The ‘M’ Song” – Dormouse
“The Conspiracy Song” – Mad Hatter, Dormouse, March Hare
“There’s Something About Alice” – Company
ACT II
“Changes” – Alice
“The Rules of the Game” – Red Queen, Alice, Company
“The Song Of Morals” – Duchess
“Child of Pure, – Unclouded Brow” ..Company (Men)
“The Seasons” – White Knight, Alice
“Soliliquy“ – Alice
“Epilogue” – Company (Men)
Time & Setting
Present time. Above ground NYC, the subway, and Wonderland.
History of Readings/Productions
Songs presented in various cabaret venues throughout NYC, 2002-present
Midtown International Theatre Festival, Manhattan, 2009
Emerging Artists Theatre/Notes from a Page, Manhattan, 7/14/2008.
Private table reading with Jamibeth Margolis, Director, 2/2008
Off-Broadway option, November 2005-April 2007
York Theatre (Development Series), December 2004
Various songs presented at Cast Party at the King Kong Room, 2004
Honorable mention, Theatre Resources Unlimited Reading Series, 2003
Mentor session with Pat Cook and Frederic Fryer, 2003
Reading at the BMI Workshop, 2002
Oakland University, 12/2016
For information on ALICE, THE MUSICAL, please contact Jay Rogers.
Synopsis
A young, hopeful New York professional, ALICE is starting her typical workday by missing the alarm (“I’m Late”). She traverses the crowded subway, having various interactions with the commuters, including WK (later WHITE RABBIT) who loses his “ears” (earmuffs) thanks to ALICE (“Anything Can Happen”). There is a sudden stop and Alice finds herself in Wonderland. Some of her commuters are now the animals around her.
WHITE RABBIT informs ALICE that the game (a chess match) is being held for her and she must decide her first move. The RED QUEEN is riding the field, sizing up her opponent, she confronts and threatens ALICE but, basically, welcomes her to the game. ALICE riles the RED QUEEN without concern, then finds out she’ll be a White Pawn on a direct path toward The RED QUEEN once the game begins. In her first square, the CATERPILLAR reminds her to keep her temper, stay out of the muck and to hurry along and leave him alone. ALICE is launched via mushroom two squares forward to reach TWEEDLEDEE and TWEEDLEDUM, clones. Before she arrives, a RED KNIGHT is scene (face not shown) patrolling on the other side of a hedge. The WHITE KNIGHT enters and kills him. ALICE then enters (“lands”) to meet the TWEEDLES, who are vying for the attention of the nearby WHITE KNIGHT, but he and ALICE are instantly in love.
The QUEEN appears and tries to take posession of the WHITE KNIGHT but ALICE is in a protective chess position and manages to save him. ALICE then informs the QUEEN OF HEARTS that ALICE will be queen, too, if she can get to the other side.
The WHITE KNIGHT is called off to fight his next battle and so delivers ALICE to the DUCHESS on his way. The DUCHESS (really, the White Queen) is a homely spinster with an androgenous significant other, THE COOK, and foster child in tow. THE DUCHESS develops an unhealthy admiration for ALICE causing the DUCHESS’ COOK to become increasingly jealous.
ALICE flees with the laid-back CHESHIRE CAT, a song and dance man, who tries to convince ALICE to play the game and enjoy life – to “WHISTLE YOUR WORRIES AWAY.” ALICE soft shoes her way to the Mad Tea Party.
Greeted by the MAD HATTER, the MARCH HARE, and the DORMOUSE, ALICE joins in a lively discussion of tea, politics, and madness. The DORMOUSE gives her a psychological evaluation during the Party. The WHITE KNIGHT appears at the Party, along with the RED QUEEN, to give ALICE her croquet invitation.
Once ALICE exits, the RED QUEEN demands a report. The DORMOUSE, in charge of national security for the QUEEN, along with chief spies MAD HATTER and MARCH HARE, respond with a litany of complaints against ALICE. The WHITE KNIGHT has his own agenda. to win her heart. It is selected by the QUEEN as the most devious plan and he is encouraged to win over ALICE. Once WHITE KNIGHT is alone onstage, he confesses he truly looks forward to this mission – no matter the consequences – and builds so obvious to his ACT I climax song that something must be wrong. It is. He is afraid – and though he’s a thousand years old, this is a new feeling. He cannot pursue her.
ALICE faces the QUEEN at the Palace where the QUEEN’s HENCHPEOPLE are painting the trees yet another shade of red to match the newest alert. The QUEEN OF HEARTS addresses the croquet players, announces the rules of the game: No spitting, no hitting below the sandals, and positively, no morals allowed. The DUCHESS follows ALICE to a secluded place and professes her attraction — then not — then does. The KING OF HEARTS professes his attraction to ALICE and this is where ALICE would be considered as “taking the King” and reaching the final square. The KING is the one who cries out for help and all rush to his aid.
The QUEEN OF HEARTS appears, standing in judgment over ALICE. The DUCHESS tries to defend her, then the KING OF HEARTS, who ALICE “slays.” ALICE has officially reached the end of the board and all true sovereigns attain their right through trial … typically, by fire. ALICE is on trial for treason, kidnapping and wasting her existence.
Found guilty, ALICE attempts to instill a sort of chaos. Wonderland now considers her public enemy one. Taking queue from THE QUEEN, the CAST attacks ALICE. She awakens in a world between dream and wake where the WHITE KNIGHT joins her in a duet. The KNIGHT is sad but would not trade his experiences. He is glad to have loved ALICE no matter the consequences; therefore, he will do as he promised to do. But she must go back. He gives her his glove.
There is a screech of subway breaks. ALICE awakens sitting next to the WHITE KNIGHT’s glove, the WHITE RABBIT’s ears and a playing card or two. ALICE realizes she’s now late for her first day of work. As she hurriedly exits, a prostitute (the QUEEN) points out the forgotten gloves. ALICE ponders the mis-matched gloves and takes the KNIGHT’s with her.
Frank Blocker 