ALICE

A Sonoma Academy original aptation of, Alice in Wonderland, created by the

Production and Design Studio class & Fall playwriting exploratory in
collaboration with the Art Department Puppetry class

Performance dates: April 27-30, 2023

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 Cast of Characters:

Young Alice, age 10 - Elliot Harrison

Grown Alice, age 16 - Freyja Kremer / Lilia Maxwell
Young Lorena, age 12 - Gigi Bruce Low
Grown Lorena, age 19 - Natalie Burton
The Mad Hatter - Mira Bruce Low / Ian Mutz
The Queen of Hearts - Marlena Bennet Hall / Theo Marvin
The Cheshire Cat - Madigan Traversi
The Dormouse - Hannah Marik
The March Hare - Avery Novograd
The Caterpillar -Olivia Pezzullo/ Nishan Permalla
The Caterpillar’s inchworm, Ingrid - Cole Stein
The White Rabbit - Lu Eyler/ Ellison White
The Queens Toad - Dayton Shepardson/ Louise Estella
Tweedle-Dee & Tweedle Dum - Tilly Houston / Pamela Gloger
The Flowers/girls at the Lewis Boarding School:
Rose - Livia Browne
Lily- Cole Stein
Violet - Ivette Garcia Bautista
The Jabberwocky - human puppeteers TBA

Wonder Cast
Freyja Kremer- Alice
Ellison White - The White Rabbit
Mira Bruce Low - The Mad Hatter
Theo Marvin - The Queen of Hearts
Nishan Permalla - The Caterpillar
Louise Estella - The Queen's Toad

Land Cast
Lilia Maxwell - Alice
Luciana Eyler - White Rabbit
Ian Mutz - The Mad Hatter

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 Marlena Bennet Hall - The Queen of Hearts
Olivia Pezzullo - The Caterpillar
Dayton Shepardson - The Queen's Toad

SHOW DATES:
Thursday April 27th 4:30 Wonder / 7:00 Land
Friday April 28th 4:30 Land / 7:00 Wonder
Saturday April 29th 2:00 Wonder / 7:00 Land
Sunday April 30th 2:00 Land / 6:00 Wonder

Production TEAM:
Director: J. Coté
Assistant Director: Natalie Burton
Art Direction: Mae McCarthy
Story Structure/crafting: Mira Bruce Low
Puppet Choreography / Puppet Direction: Mae McCarthy
Original Script Written by: The Production Design Studio Class with lead writers/story
developers: Ian Mutz, Mira Bruce-Low, Mae McCarthy, Savvy Gouillot, Jen Cote, Cole Stein, &
Elian Diaz-Zepada
Set Designer: Mae McCarthy
Music Director / original composition / digital engineering: Sarai Juarez Osorio
Music Assistant/ recording musician: Lynna Xu
Costume designer: Marlena Bennet Hall
Student lighting designer: Louise Estella
Costume assistants: Lu Eyler, and Jayden Heselton, Sam
Hackett
Makeup / Hair Design: Tilly Houston
Prop Masters: Ellison White, Lyvia Browne, Madigan Traversi
Sound Design: Madigan Traversi
Student Set Formen: Chris Giffoni
SET BUILD CREW: Ryan Yang, Chris Giffoni, Raphel McGlynn, Will Douglas, Harper Clark, Mae
McCarthy
Scene Painting: Harper Clark / Mae McCarthy
Tech FX/QLab/Video projections: Chris Giffoni
Poster Design: Mae McCarthy

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PUPPET MAKER LEAD DESIGNERS under the Direction of Hilary Younglove:
The Queen of Hearts - Sam Hackett / Charlie Powers
The Caterpillar: Madigan Traversi / Kaya Greer / Jen Coté / Bruce Lackovic
The Caterpillar's Inchworm: Lainie Ramos
The White Rabbit: Sam Farber / Lainy Ramos
The Queen’s Toad: Dayton Shepardson
Tweedle Dee / Dum: Harper Clark
The Cheshire Cat: Madison Thrash / Tae Loh
The Flowers: Lainy Ramos
The Dormouse: Harper Clark
Shadow Puppetry: Dante Squires
The Jabberwocky: Mae McCarthy
Felted Animals in Alice’s childhood bedroom: Ashlyn Brescia
Marionette “Tiny” Alice: Charlie Powers / Ashlyn Brescia /Lanie Ramos

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 ACT 1, SCENE 1: Young Alice and Lorena

[Setting - A child’s messy playroom. Young Alice, age 8, plays with her stuffed toys and animals. She
is energetic, slightly unkempt and has a smear of jelly around her mouth. Her toys include a small
white rabbit, a caterpillar, a mouse, and a stuffed cat. Her kitten Dinah sleeps contentedly on a
pillow nearby. Homemade party decorations, a wrapped gift and a tea party are set out. There is a
plate of tarts with burning birthday candles on a table. Gentle childlike music plays] music change

(Young Alice is revealed, from behind turntable)

(Young Lorena enters from L)
(sound cue for turntable turning)
(We watch young Alice playing with her toys for a bit with music underscore before the dialogue
begins)

YOUNG ALICE
Would you like some tea, Mr. Caterpillar? (makes the stuffy nod yes) Very well then, tea it is.
(pours pretend tea) Now it’s time to sing! For we must sing the Unbirthday song to everyone
except the Jabberwocky. We sing Happy Birthday to him because it’s his birthday! (singing) It’s
very merry unbirthday-

YOUNG LORENA
(calling from offstage)
Alice! We are leaving for the party in five minutes. You’d better be dressed by the time I come
in to get you!

YOUNG ALICE
(yelling back)
Okay!
(Talking to her stuffies again)
Well, Mr. Rabbit, I guess you must watch over the others while I’m gone. Promise you won’t let
them get into any mischief without me? And when I get back, we can all go on an adventure
together!

Enter Alice’s older sister Lorena, age 11 wearing a party dress with perfect hair and a bow. She has a
look of disapproval on her face because of the messy room and Alice being a little disgruntled with
jam on her face. Alice is searching around the room looking for something)

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 YOUNG LORENA
(Exacerbated)
Why are you never ready when I ask? Wipe that jam off your face, get dressed, and let’s go.
Aunt Imogen is waiting.

YOUNG ALICE
(eats jam off her face with her finger)
(Young Alice stands up to search for her Jabberwocky)
But Lorena, I can’t find my Jabberwocky! Did you take him? He must come to the party, as it’s
his birthday! You know he would love it, he has the biggest heart.

YOUNG LORENA
(Sighs)
(Young Lorena busies herself tidying Alice’s room)
Oh Alice, I think that award goes to you. If you had any larger of a heart, I think it might
explode. I did not take your Jabberwocky, why would I want an old toy made up of rags? That’s
childish and strange. Now come on, you can just pretend he’s there this time. (slightly under her
breath) You have a great amount of practice in that…

YOUNG ALICE
(frustrated and raising her voice)
(Young Alice stands up)
Hey, I heard that! You’re just jealous because you have the most un-fun, unhappy, un-birthday
heart in the whole world.

YOUNG LORENA
Alice. Rule number 23: a lady must never raise her voice for it shows signs of hysteria. Didn’t
you read any of the etiquette books I gave you?

YOUNG ALICE
No! How could one possibly pay attention to a book with no pictures in it? I much prefer
writing my own stories. Now, give me back my Jabberwocky.

YOUNG LORENA
For the last time, I don’t have it! Alice, you must put away your toys and get dressed. Aunt
Imogen is taking us to a very fancy party at the Kingsleys and you must be presentable.
(Noticing the tarts and candles and crossing to the table in disbelief)

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 (Young Lorena crosses to the other side of the room, and picks up toys)
Are these the jam tarts I made?! Did you take a bite out of each one?! I was going to take those
to the party!

YOUNG ALICE
How was I supposed to know which ones were the raspberry ones? My Jabberwocky only likes
that flavor!

YOUNG LORENA
Oh Alice! (Young Lorena crosses) We’re always late because of you, we’d better hurry. Come on,
come downstairs this instant. (turns to leave) Oh, and blow out those candles, we don’t want
the house to burn down while we’re gone!
(Young Lorena exits)

YOUNG ALICE
(Talking to her stuffies)
You heard Queen Lorena, I must be off. But when the Jabberwocky comes home, tell him
Happy Birthday from me. (she looks at the burning candle and eats a dab of jam with her finger)

YOUNG LORENA
(calling from offstage)
Alice! Come at once!

YOUNG ALICE
(Still talking to her stuffies)
Oh! And tell him to blow out the candles and make a wish! (She skips off stage)

(lights fade with only candle still glowing)

(Young Alice exits L)
Fire sounds that blend into music: (Music - Scene change 2)

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 ACT 1, SCENE 2

6 years later. The Lewis Boarding School.

(Music - Scene change 2)
(Lorena, now 19 and perfectly attired, enters and looks around uncomfortably. She holds a suitcase
Lewis students Rose, Daisy, and Lily enter, laughing. They stop and take in Lorena with a
judgemental sneer.)

LORENA
Excuse me, I am here to pick up my sister, Alice. Can you let her know I have arrived?

ROSE
(laughing) I’m not the headmistress. Do you expect us to keep track of Alice?

LILY
She’s probably out wandering in the woods again. Talking to herself, no doubt.

DAISY
Lily, don’t be mean. (sarcastically) You know that's the only company she has.

ROSE
Violet, go tell Madam Parnell that “Alice The Unusual” is going to be leaving us. So sad.

VIOLET
We are really going to miss our dear Alice. Who else is going to entertain us? This school is
boring, but your sister is always one to give us a laugh. (giggling) Last week I caught her
napping in the grass for hours and she came to dinner covered in weeds!
(All laugh. Daisy exits)

LILY
I’m not sure the real world is ready for your sister. She is not normal, as I am sure you know.

LORENA
She’s going to be living with me and she will be perfectly fine.

ROSE
She talks nonsense. She’s never where she’s supposed to be. She’s positively delusional.

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 LILY
She lives in a dream. Always telling stories, speaking of things and people that don’t exist.

LORENA
(Defending her sister) She’s always been a bit eccentric. But her heart is always in the right
place

ROSE
Well, her heart may be good, but her brain is riddled with madness. If I were you, I would take
her to an asylum straightaway.

LORENA
(dismissing them)
Thank you for your help, ladies. I will wait here for my sister.

(Rose and Lily exit giggling and whispering.)

(Alice suddenly bursts in from outside chasing something. She is slightly disheveled. She holds a
small journal)

ALICE
Come here, kitty! Kitty! (to Lorena) Did you see a cat run in here?
(surprised to see her)
Oh, Lorena!?

LORENA
Hello, Alice.

ALICE
What are you doing here?

LORENA
It’s Tuesday. I told Mistress Pernell I was going to collect you today. Were you not told?

ALICE
(not entirely truthful)
I’m sorry I must have forgotten (she continues to call for the kitty)

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 LORENA
Alice, I really need to speak with you. Can you please sit down and talk to me!

ALICE
But-

LORENA
(sternly)
Alice, please.
(Alice sits down on the floor and Lorena stands)

LORENA
It’s time to come home. You’ve been gone too long, Alice. There are matters which might
benefit from your attention. We have friends that cannot be neglected.

ALICE
You have friends, Lorena… and society, and tea parties, and white gloves and pretty hats… I
don’t…

LORENA
Alice, to continue to go on like this at your age is simply mad.

ALICE
I’m not mad, Lorena. Perhaps my reality is just different from yours?

LORENA
Alice, I’m asking you to come home and live with me. Enter society. We all forgive you for what
happened. A girl your age needs to be making her way in the world.
(sits down next to Alice)

ALICE
Whose world? Your world, Lorena? I’ve always found your world boring. You know it’s not for
me. (beat, Alice stands) When I have the courage to leave here, then I think perhaps….. one day I
want to travel and see the world.

LORENA
(stands) A young girl cannot just go traipsing out into the world alone? That’s impossible. It’s
just not done! You are 16 years old Alice. You must grow up!

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 ALICE
(pacing around the stage and going up and down stairs SL)
Perhaps the things I dream of only seem impossible to you — why, sometimes I've believed as
many as six impossible things before breakfast. It feels as if you want me to pretend to be two
people. Why, there’s hardly enough of me left to make one respectable person. (sit on stairs SL)

LORENA
I want you to be yourself, Alice. I truly do. I just want you to have more sense.

ALICE
I know. Everyone does it seems.

LORENA
(after a moment)
(crosses SR and then comes back) I’ve clearly surprised you today. Please, be packed and ready to
leave with me in the morning.

ALICE
(beat) Can I think about it? I’m not certain I’m ready.

LORENA
Alice, I certainly hope that you will be---

(SHADOW RABBIT APPEARS center stage) (Lorena cross to exit SR)

(Suddenly a white rabbit darts past. Music - White Rabbit song)

(White Rabbit goes down SR, across stage and exit SL. Music plays throughout dialogue)

ALICE
(startled)
--Lorena, did you see that?

LORENA
Oh Alice, now what? (cross center)

ALICE
A white rabbit just ran through the room?! You saw it! You must have seen it.

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 LORENA
(Looking around)
I saw nothing of the sort! I thought you were looking for a cat?

(Rabbit enter SL and run to center)

{RABBIT MUSIC Music/The White Rabbit crosses again}

THE WHITE RABBIT

Oh dear, I am late. I am late, I am late, I am late….

ALICE
There it goes again! It just spoke!? Lorena, did you hear what it said?

LORENA
You saw a rabbit? And it talked? (deeply disappointed) Oh, Alice….
(getting up to leave)
I’m going to go speak to the headmistress about your departure. (beat) Please be ready
tomorrow.
(Lorena exits L)

(Music/The White Rabbit crosses again)

(runs up stage R)

THE WHITE RABBIT

Oh dear, I am late. I am late, I am late, I am late….
(spoken while running)
(Alice runs up stairs during line)

ALICE
Mr. Rabbit? Wait! What are you late for….?
Mr. Rabbit? Where did he go?

ALICE
Answer me! (beat) Mr. White Rabbit, where are you going? I do so want to know what he is late
for. I—I will follow him. Wait for me, Mr. White Rabbit. I'm coming, too!

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 (Scene change 3 - Wonderland)
(The set transforms/music revealing a rabbit hole—start at 1:00 min. Play under dialogue and as
she falls / shadow puppet scene)

(lines said behind the projector screen)

He must have disappeared down this hole. I don’t remember seeing this earlier. (peering inside)
How curious. I never realized that rabbit holes were so dark… and so loooong… (her voice
echos) and so empty. If I were to fall in, I might fall somewhere near the center of the earth.
How funny that would be. Oh silly Alice, I'm sure I see the bottom. Mr. White Rabbit, wait! I am
following you. I do hope I don’t hit the bottom very hard, because oh, how it will hurt! (beat)
Don’t do it Alice, it looks dangerous. But that's just the trouble with Jo me. I give myself very
good advice, but I very seldom follow it. (climbing into the hole) Mr. Rabbit, wait…Mr. Rabbit……
(she falls) ahhhhhhh………

(Stage magic and music as Alice falls in slow motion using stop motion projection through the rabbit
hole into Wonderland. music falling through rabbit hole)

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 ACT 1, SCENE 3: Alice arrives in Wonderland
Ext. Wonderland Forest

{SOUND CUE BODY HITTING GROUND]

ALICE
(center stage)
Mr. Rabbit? Mr Rabbit? I’m ok. I made it through.

{RABBIT MUSIChe White Rabbit crosses again}

(Seeing him)
Finally, I’ve found you!

[RABBIT MUSIC]

WHITE RABBIT
Quick! Quick! You’ve been summoned by the Queen! Quickly! Quickly! The Queen of Hearts! We
must go! Go! Go!

(White Rabbit takes her by the hand and starts to drag her away)
(crosses SL)

ALICE
(Pulls rabbit back towards center)
Slow down, Mr. Rabbit. What Queen? Why would a Queen want to see me?

WHITE RABBIT
(He continues to pull her arm) Make haste! Make haste! No time to explain! Be swift! Be swift!

ALICE
Why is everyone always rushing me….

WHITE RABBIT
(Darting around)
Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She’ll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are
ferrets! One must always be on time for an audience with the Queen. Oh, she shall have my
head on a shelf and my heart in a jar by day’s end, for certain.

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 (suddenly realizing)
Where are my gloves?! Where are my white gloves?! One must always wear gloves to meet the
Queen! And today is the Queen’s inquisition! And me, without my gloves and late! Oh, she shall
have my head for sure. Oh no, oh dear, oh my whiskers…… I am late, I am late and I have lost
my gloves. (hurrying off) I am late, I am late, I am late…

ALICE
Wait! Should I also be wearing gloves?

WHITE RABBIT
Are you mad?! One must always wear gloves!!
Oh dear oh dear…….I must fetch gloves for us both! Wait here.
Ms. Alice! The Queen does not like to wait! Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! We’re late! We’re late!
(White Rabbit vanishes again)
(Rabbit exit SL)

ALICE
(Cross to center)
I am not mad! I was never told I would need gloves, or that I would be meeting a Queen!
(sigh) How very strange. I always suspected Rabbits could speak, only this is the first one who
has ever spoken to me. (looking around) Where am I? This feels familiar (rubbing her head) I
must have bumped my head in the fall. When will the rabbit return?
(start to exit SL)

ACT 1, SCENE 4: Alice meets the Flowers

(MUSIC/FLOWER THEME SONG PLAYS. Music plays while the turn table set reveals the flowers.
Rose, Lily and Violet - all beautiful flowers, appear.)

ROSE
The Queen declared last week that blue was no longer permitted, Violet. You must get yourself
painted before the Queen’s Inquisition!

LILY
Besides, blue is really not a flattering color on you.

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 VIOLET
But if I am caught dripping in wet paint, won’t she be suspicious and then it’s “OFF with my
head?”

ALICE
Even the flowers talk!?
(All three flowers stop and stare at Alice)
(Alice stands up and crosses to R side of flowers)
Excuse me, did you mention something about the Queen chopping off heads? You see I’ve been
summoned to meet her and---

ROSE
---Who or what are you……?

ALICE
Pardon?

VIOLET
What species…..or genus are you?
(Flowers begin to circle Alice)

LILY
She must be a weed. I have never seen anything so wild and unruly!
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ALICE
That’s not fair, I just tumbled down a hole! I’m Alice.
(Walks away from flowers)

ROSE
I’ve never seen an “Alice” before.

LILY
Neither have I. The Queen of Hearts is going to have her head for sure. She hates ugly, little,
messy things.

VIOLET
And her petals are all the wrong colors.

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 (Alice crosses to center block)

ALICE
I’m not a thing. Or a flower. Or a weed. I’m a girl. Now can you please tell me where I am? You
see, I tumbled down a long…

ROSE
(Move up on center block)
You, my dear, are in Wonderland. Nothing is quite as it seems here.

ALICE
Wonderland? I suppose in Wonderland rabbits and flowers can speak…..?

LILY
(Move up on center block)
Of course we speak! Just because we are beautiful flowers, you don’t think we can talk?!

VIOLET
(Move up on center block)
We can talk when there’s anybody worth talking to. In fact, we can all talk as well as you can,
and a great deal more eloquently. Perhaps you mistook us for Carnations — Carnations will
talk to any creature, even weeds.

ROSE
The flowers you have met before were probably not interested in getting to know anyone
without a real stem and proper petals… and superior pedigree.

VIOLET
You presumed we couldn’t talk, because it is our opinion that you never think at all.

LILY
Yes. We never saw anybody that looked stupider. Plus you have an awkward shape, your petals
are too short — and you are not wearing the right color to meet the Queen of Hearts.

ROSE
Of course, we could presume you are probably fading, all the prettiest flowers do.

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 ALICE
For the last time, I’m a girl!
(cross away SR from flowers)

VIOLET
Nevertheless, the Queen of Hearts won’t like you at all.

ALICE
Why is she called the Queen of Hearts?

(all three flowers laugh)

ROSE
It’s not because of her pure heart, I’ll tell you that.

LILY
(dark music / trying to scare Alice)
Everyone in Wonderland knows that if you make her mad, she shall chop off your head and
keep your heart in a jar behind her throne.

ALICE
Oh my.

LILY
It is said she broke her own heart long ago, so now she collects the hearts of those that dare
cross her!

ROSE
Now you know why you should fear the Queen of Hearts?

VIOLET
You better hope the Queen’s Jabberwocky is not about these woods today. It shall surely snatch
you up and eat you!

ROSE
Or worse, it shall drag you to the Queen’s inquisition, where you shall surely be tried for
rudeness, unkempt petals and being the wrong color. And then it’s… (all mime a throat being
slit)

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 ALICE
Oh, how horrible she sounds. (beat) Did you say the Queen’s Jabberwocky?

LILY
That’s right. A vicious beast she keeps as a pet, with black eyes and sharp teeth that bite and
claws that claw!

[Ominous music fades/Gentile Childlike music begins]

ALICE
I knew a Jabberwocky once. I made him. I made him out of every toy I ever loved all sewn into
one. My sister thought he was ugly….

VIOLET
Well, wait until you meet this one.

(flowers laugh cross back to turntable)

ALICE
(to self)
But I made up the word Jabberwocky when I was little, she must have it, the queen must have
my Jabberwocky.

ROSE
You don’t want to find it! But you better hope your petals it doesn’t find you!

(lights shift and flicker / a rumbling/growling is heard in the distance/shape of Jabberwocky seen
behind cyc)

(Sound cue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9YOAHyKrho)

ROSE
(panic rising) We best be off! Violet, we must hide you and that horrid blue at once.

LILY
Good luck weed. I’d hide if I were you.

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 [
MUSIC/FLOWER THEME SONG PLAYS. FLOWER MUSIC PLAYS THEM OFF]

(flowers exit R)
SOUND (the rumbling and growling grows louder, Alice hides, the rumbling and a large shadow
passes and fades)

ACT 1, SCENE 5

(SCARY JABBERWOCKY SOUNDS RETURN - BIG DRUM/ Possible Sound cue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9YOAHyKrho)

(The Jabberwocky’s shadow is seen)

(Alice hides stage R. Growing fades)

ALICE
That beast can’t be my Jabberwocky… it wasn’t a monster, it was my friend.

(Just then, a flourish of music and The Queen of Hearts enters with her Toad. Alice stays in hiding.)

QUEEN
Toad! Toad!

TOAD
Yes, my Queen.

(music fades)

QUEEN
My Jabberwocky is on the hunt. What do you think he’s after?

TOAD
Most likely something unpleasing to your majesty.

QUEEN
Speak up toad, or I shall squish you like a bug.

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 TOAD
Perhaps the Jabberwocky smells something with a stink?

QUEEN
Yes. Yes, in fact I think I smell it too. Perhaps it’s the little intruder that my White Rabbit has
been tasked with bringing to my court.
(She sniffs the air, Alice remains paralyzed with fear)
Toad!! Do you smell it?

(Toad crosses R, and sniffs the air)

(Toad goes back to the queen)

TOAD
(Sniffs about, seeing ALICE who motions for him to stay quiet)
Most certainly, your majesty. (shift) Have I told you how beautiful you look today?

QUEEN
You have only told me 9 times today. I should have your head for that!

TOAD
Well, let me use this moment to once again praise your splendor, my Queen. Your skin is
glowing like a mushroom and you smell of the most deeply fragrant of roses.

QUEEN
Not BLUE ones I hope…?!

TOAD
NO, no, never! A foul, foul color. You smell of the sweetest and deepest and REDDIST of roses.

QUEEN
Ahhh, you are a sweet little dumpling, Toad.
(she pats him on the head)

Now say it, Toad.

SAY IT!

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 Say, “I. AM. A. SWEET. LITTLE. DUMPLING.”

TOAD
Yes, yes, your Majesty. I am a sweet little dumpling.

QUEEN
(with a laugh and a sickly sweet voice as if speaking to a baby)
Yes you are! And you are lucky I don’t gobble you up!
(turning deadly serious)
No, really you are.
(Toad gulps)
Now Toad, let’s pursue the Jabberwocky. Surely we can watch him frighten the little creature
everyplace it turns — and won’t that be delightful fun!?

TOAD
Yes, your majesty.

But, but… my Queen..?.

QUEEN
Speak, toad!

TOAD
The weekly inquisition! It is surely in three turns of the clock. We must return to the court.
Your White Rabbit has likely summoned the intruder by now, and it must be tried at once.
Don’t……. don’t…… you remember…..?

QUEEN
Ah, of course I remember! I ought to punish YOU for forgetting. We must be off!

(The Queen exits L with music, Toad points off stage and motions for Alice to run away in the other
direction. She does.

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 ACT 1, SCENE 6

(Alice runs back onstage out of breath. Music. Or keep Queen music playing. Scene change 5. She is
standing in front of a flat with very small door)

ALICE
Well, that Queen of Hearts doesn’t seem like someone I should like to meet after all.
(starts to leave. Stops. realizing)
But she has my Jabberwocky!? The poor thing must be her captive and so frightened.

(Just then, the White Rabbit reappears)

(Alice is center)

[White Rabbit music plays]

Music/The White Rabbit

WHITE RABBIT
Alice! There you are, you silly creature. I told you to follow me! We must make haste. Oh my
ears and whiskers, we are most certainly going to be late now.

ALICE
Mr. Rabbit, Mr Rabbit — wait! I’m not certain this Queen of yours---

RABBIT
No time to object. I shall explain everything later! You must follow!
(The White Rabbit opens the tiny door and disappears inside leaving behind a tiny satchel)
(Alice dashes to the door and tries to get inside, but clearly will not fit.)

Rabbit music fades.

ALICE
Mr. Rabbit! How am I to follow you through this tiny door? I’m far too big to fit through.
(finds dropped satchel)
You dropped your satchel!
(ALice knocks on tiny door and tries to open it)

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 ACT 1, SCENE 7

ALICE
(defeated)
Oh dear, it seems everything about me here is wrong. Perhaps there is no place I belong after
all.
(Defeated, she sits. Looking in the Rabbit’s tiny bag)
I wonder if the key is in here.

(Alice crosses to L stairs, sits, and looks through the satchel and finds a tart)

Oh, what luck! ( hold up key) And Raspberry tart! Surely he won’t mind.

(Alice goes up to silhouette and we see tiny Alice)

(She takes a bite. The lights and music shift and poof of smoke, tiny Alice appears)

Mr. Rabbit, help… something's happening…… help!

(looking around as tiny Alice)
Everything is suddenly so big!
(noticing the tiny door, now perfectly her size)
Or else I am suddenly very, very… small?

(She unlocks the tiny door and goes through, enter stage R)
(sound que)

ACT 1 SCENE 8
(Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum theme song plays, they enter R and walk past mid argument. Music
plays loud as they enter and continues soft under dialogue)

(Mask up)
TWEEDLE DEE
You are Gollumpus, if ever a Gollumpus I have met!

TWEEDLE DUM
I ought to box your ears for that one! I never met a bigger grumbletonian than you, my sister.

24
 (Tweedle dee crosses to the other side of Alice)

TWEEDLE DEE
Tattermallion!

TWEEDLE DUM
Cream-faced loon!

TWEEDLE DEE
Do you want to fight it out?
(Raise mask)

TWEEDLE DUM
Definitely! (beat) Tomorrow!

TWEEDLE DEE
Agreed!

(Tiny Alice shouting from below)

ALICE
Hello up there! Can you hear me?

TWEEDLE DEE
Do you hear something, Tweedle Dum?

TWEEDLE DUM
Perhaps a small gnat has flown into your ever so bulbous ear, Tweedle Dee.

ALICE
(shouting up to them)
Can you help me! You see I am quite small down here, but I was hoping you might have seen a
white rabbit dash by?

TWEEDLE DEE
My ear is a thing of beauty! I shall give you a proper thumping tomorrow for that one.

TWEEDLE DUM

25
 And I you!

(they exit arguing and repeating, “and I you”)

(They squabble and exit L. Their theme songs fades)

ALICE
It is not so nice here in Wonderland at all. In fact, it is so far quite awful.
(She sits down and begins to cry. The lights shift and there is the sound of large tears drops splashing
to the ground)

ACT 1, SCENE 9

(Alice starts crying here)

ALICE
Oh dear. (SOUND Q sound of large tear falling to the ground) You may be tiny, Alice, but your
tears seem to be quite, quite large? Why surely I am going to drown if I don’t stop.

(She cries harder. Tiny Alice continues to sob and soon she is being swept up in an ocean of tears.
Music and water sounds.)
(Soon, the Dormouse floats by on a tea plate.)

ALICE
Excuse me, Mouse. Can you help me?
(Dormouse enters from L)

DORMOUSE
(Yawning)
Do you have the time?

ALICE
Oh, no. I am afraid I do not.

DORMOUSE
Ah well, it’s just as well. I wasted time, and now time doth waste me……
(Dormouse is on R side of Alice)

ALICE

26
 Can you help me find my way out of this ocean of tears? I need to grow large again!

DORMOUSE
You are quite needy.
How about a riddle instead!

ALICE
I don’t need a riddle, I need help or I shall surely drown!

DORMOUSE
A riddle it is!
“What is baked to perfection, a treat so nice,
Crisp or soft, with a sugary spice.”
Hmmmm?

ALICE
A cookie?

(The Dormouse reveals a cookie and hands it to Alice. She then falls back asleep and floats away)

DORMOUSE
Precisely! Cookies are known to cure all that ails you!

ALICE
(Taking a bite of the cookie)
Thank you! Please let this work!

(Lights and music shift as the ocean vanishes / ocean sound ends and Alice is suddenly quite large.
Her giant eye peers through the projection screen).
(Alice vanishes with the ocean of tears)
(Alice’s face projection is shown)

ALICE
Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear!
Now I am so large I shall never find the rabbit again! Someone -- help!

27
(Suddenly the Cheshire Cat appears and floats a wine sized double sided bottle with a label saying
“drink me”)

ALICE
(projection Alice holds a tiny bottle)
“Drink me?” I might as well try……

(Lights/music and Alice is returned to human Alice size once again)

ALICE
(Alice is center)
Oh thank goodness, I’m Alice sized again!
(She knocks on the tiny door)
(cross to tiny door)
Now where is that Rabbit!? Please, come back. Ugh! Why must everything here be so difficult!?

(Cheshire music theme plays. Music plays quietly underneath all dialogue. The Cheshire Cat
reappears in the sky)

CHESHIRE CAT
Oh Alice, what is easy to get into but hard to get out of….?

ALICE
Who’s there? Who said that?

CHESHIRE CAT
It’s just I. Your old friend…
Now, answer this riddle.

ALICE
(thinking)
“What is easy to get into but hard to get out of?”
What’s the answer?

CHESHIRE CAT
Trouble…….

28
 Cheshire Cat music fades

(The Cheshire Cat disappears)

(Exits L)

ALICE
Hello, hello…..?
Trouble? What does that mean?
Well, I do seem to be finding trouble at every turn.

ACT 1, SCENE 10
[Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum theme song plays]
(/Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum re-enter)
(Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum enter L)

TWEEDLE DEE
Oh my, what have we here?

TWEEDLE DUM
Don’t tell me. You’re new here. You look terribly out of place.

TWEEDLE DEE
Tweedle Dum, this must be the dirty guttersnipe the Queen has summoned!

ALICE
How dare you! I am not a guttersnipe.

TWEEDLE DUM
It’s not even wearing gloves!?

TWEEDLE DEE
What a silly little foozler!

ALICE
I’m not a guttersnipe or a foozler --I’m an Alice.

TWEEDLE DEE

29
 (suddenly sweet)
Oh, pleased to meet you, Alice. Allow me to introduce myself: I am-

TWEEDLE DUM
Shake my hand first! I am the most important. Far more important than my Wiffle Waffle of a
sister.

TWEEDLE DEE
MY hand!

TWEEDLE DUM
MY hand!

ALICE
Enough! Please introduce yourselves civilly. (extending her tiny hand) Like this - I am Alice, I
am trying to find the White Rabbit so that he might take me to meet the Queen of Hearts.

TWEEDLE DEE
I am Tweedle Dee, and this is my driggle draggle of a sister!

TWEEDLE DUM
Don’t listen to her! I am Tweedle Dum. The far superior sibling to my fopdoddle of a twin!

TWEEDLE DEE
Dilberry maker!

TWEEDLE DUM
Hornswoggler!

ALICE
Please stop fighting!
As I was saying, I’m trying to follow the Rabbit to the Queen of Hearts.

TWEEDLE DEE
Oh yes. We’ve heard tell of you.
But someone so strange and untidy should never visit the Queen’s court. She’ll smush you to
bits.

30
 TWEEDLE DUM
It must be terrible to be so lost and alone here in Wonderland. Sister, doesn't she look as pitiful
as a chuckaboo?

TWEEDLE DEE
Pitiful as a chuckaboo’s tears.

ALICE
I haven’t always been alone, but everyone I meet keeps disappearing. (cross to stage R) Please,
can you help me?

TWEEDLE DEE
Well… we could help you.

TWEEDLE DUM
But what will you do for us?

ALICE
Anything you wish! What do you need?

TWEEDLE DEE
Why, we need to be entertained of course. Truthfully we find you to be quite a bore so far!

ALICE
Boring? But we’ve only just met.

TWEEDLE DEE
Do you know any riddles?

ALICE
I’m sorry, I do not.

TWEEDLE DUM
WHAT? NO riddles?!

TWEEDLE DEE
She is tiresome indeed.

31
 TWEEDLE DUM
Well, how about a poem? You must know a poem! Tell us a poem and we shall think about
helping you.

ALICE
A poem? I’m afraid I—
(suddenly remembers)
Oh wait, I do know one!

“Roses are Red, Violets are Blue….”

TWEEDLE DUM
(ominous sound)
Shhhhhh! Never speak that poem! The Queen shall surely have your head! She and only she is
the one to decide the color of the roses! And don’t get me started on violets!

TWEEDLE DEE
Alice, it seems you are just as much of a pigeon liver as you look! Who told you you could speak
poetry?!

TWEEDLE DUM
I can tell a far superior poem in my sleep!

TWEEDLE DEE
No! You speak drivel pizzle! I can tell a poem. A lovely poem! The greatest poem!
(Tweedles Dee and Dum on stair platform)

TWEEDLE DUM
Nonsense! Sit down, watch me:

TWEEDLE DEE
No! Watch me!

The poem is entitled….

TWEEDLE DEE/TWEEDLE DUM

“The Walrus and the Carpenter!”

32
 TWEEDLE DUM
(performing with grand theatricality as we see in shadow puppetry the story comes to life. Shadow
Puppetry Scene Underscoring Music—@2:22 min. )
Me first! Ah em….

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Were walking close at hand;
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:

TWEEDLE DEE
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

TWEEDLE DUM
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

TWEEDLE DEE
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

TWEEDLE DUM
The Walrus and the Carpenter

33
 Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

TWEEDLE DEE
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"

TWEEDLE DUM
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

TWEEDLE DEE
“O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'

TWEEDLE DUM
But answer came there none—

TWEEDLE DEE
And this was scarcely odd, because--

TWEEDLE DEE/TWEEDLE DUM

They'd eaten every one!
(underscoring fades)
Isn’t that lovely.

ALICE
What? Why, that’s not a lovely poem at all! They tricked the baby oysters into a walk along the
shore… and then ate them?!

34
 TWEEDLE DUM
Yes -- isn’t it charming!?
(walk down stairs)

TWEEDLE DEE
Such a heartwarming tale!

ALICE
Actually, it’s quite sad!

TWEEDLE DUM
Sad?! It never occurred to me it was sad..? (beat) Well, perhaps my nincompoop sister didn’t
tell it right!

TWEEDLE DEE
I was nothing but eloquent! Maybe if you weren’t such a niddy-noddy, you would have let me
tell the whole thing!

TWEEDLE DUM
Jobbernowl!
(Alice breaks up the fight)

TWEEDLE DEE
Doddypoll! YOU are just jealous because I am a Master Poetic Oritor!

TWEEDLE DUM
False! I am a far superior rhetorician!

TWEEDLE DEE
(getting an idea) I know how to settle this! We must have a bit of a fight! I don’t care about the
fight going on for long — just a brief bout of fighting, should do it. What’s the time now? It
must be nearly half past the hour. Let’s fight to the hour, and then have dinner.

TWEEDLE DUM

35
(suddenly charming) Oh Alice, I do hope you will stay for the fight. You can watch us; only you’d
better not come very close, generally we hit everything we can see when we get really excited.
You can help us get into battle gear!

TWEEDLE DEE
(suddenly serious) You know, one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in
a battle— is to get one’s head cut off. (scared/nervous) Do I suddenly look very pale? I’m very
brave generally… only to-day I, I, I….. happen to have a headache.

TWEEDLE DUM
And I suddenly have a toothache! In fact I am sure I am far worse off than you!

TWEEDLE DEE
I know I am far worse off than you!

TWEEDLE DUM
Perhaps we’d better not fight today after all. Tomorrow is a much better day indeed.

TWEEDLE DEE
Agreed?

TWEEDLE DUM
Agreed!
(they shake hands and begin to exit, repeating “agreed”)

ALICE
But wait - before you go, can’t you help me find the path to the Queen’s Court… I seem to have
lost my friend, the White Rabbit.
(Dee and Dum music on exit)

TWEEDLE DUM
Your friend, you say?

ALICE
I’m not certain he’s a friend, but he was taking me to meet the Queen.

TWEEDLE DEE
So the Queen of Hearts has summoned you?

36
 ALICE
Yes. and I believe she has something of mine I wish for her to return.

TWEEDLE DEE
Are you certain this is the path for you…?

ALICE
I’m not certain of anything here in Wonderland.

TWEEDLE DUM
Alice, have you heard this riddle before?

ALICE
Not another riddle!

TWEEDLE DEE
(ominous music)
“Forever staring, seeing nought.
Mind I have, but haven't thought.”

TWEEDLE DUM
“Ears to listen, tongue to speak,
But of no use, if words you seek.”

TWEEDLE DEE & TWEEDLE DUM

(joyfully)
Can you solve it?

TWEEDLE DEE
A severed head!

TWEEDLE DUM
That is what you shall be after The Queen’s inquisition! What fuOf course this way is also---
(points in another direction)

ALICE
---Enough! Thank you.

37
 n!

TWEEDLE DUM/DEE
You are going to love her!

TWEEDLE DUM
She’s simply marvelous!

ALICE
Which way should I go?

TWEEDLE DEE
Well…….you could go this way. (points stage left)

TWEEDLE DUM
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum start exitOr that way. (points in another direction)

TWEEDLE DEE
OR this way. (points in another direction)

TWEEDLE DUM
Or that way. (points in another direction)
But of course, the way that can be named is often not the way.

TWEEDLE DEE
(Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum exit arguing about which way is the way. “I know the way” “you
most certainly do not!” etc. )

ALICE
Ugh — why does everyone here speak in nothing but riddles and poems?

(Fog/The Cheshire Cat reappears/Cheshire Cat music)

CHESHIRE CAT
Oh Alice……Only a few find the way. Some don’t recognize it when they do — some… don’t ever
want to.

38
 ALICE
Who’s there, how do you know my name?

CHESHIRE CAT
(appearing to Alice)
An Alice by any other name would not be the same.

ALICE
Why, you’re a cat! I’ve seen you before!

CHESHIRE CAT
On the contrary, my dear. I am a Cheshire Cat.

I’ve been watching you.

Why, I've been in your every shadow since your arrival.

I have a riddle for you, Alice dear.

ALICE
Of course you do.

CHESHIRE CAT
What is a precious commodity, freely given. Seen on the dead and on the living. Found on the
rich, poor, short and tall, but shared among children most of all.

Can you guess? (pause)

Why, a smile of course. (smiles)

I dare say, Have you ever seen a cat without a grin? How about a grin without a cat?

(The Cheshire Cat disappears, leaving only its ANIMATION smile Q LAB / with Cheshire Cat
music)

ALICE
It’s you I’ve been hearing. Can you help me? I must find the Queen. I fear I’m late to her
inquisition.

39
 CHESHIRE CAT
(reappearing) Haste makes waste, so I rarely hurry. But if a ferret were about to dart up my
dress, I’d run.

ALICE
Run….? Towards the Queen or are you saying I should run home?

CHESHIRE CAT
Depends on whether you have found your courage yet Alice…..

ALICE
I’m not certain I have. Which direction do you think I should go?

CHESHIRE CAT
That depends on what your heart is telling you my dear. Have you stopped to listen?

(heart beats drum)

ALICE
My heart is telling me to rescue my old friend. But I just need to find the right path.

CHESHIRE CAT
Perhaps you are already on the path for the journey that is meant to be.

ALICE
But which way should I start walking?

CHESHIRE CAT
Well, some go this way, and some go that way. But as for me, myself, personally, I prefer the
short-cut.

ALICE
Yes, please tell me the shortcut! I’m quite lost!

CHESHIRE CAT
Oh Alice, not all who wander are lost…
(The Cheshire Cat vanishes)
Cheshire Cat music on EXIT

40
 ALICE
Where did she go?
I suppose I shall just put one foot in front of the other.

(lights/a terrible rumbling sound / growls of the Jabberwocky noise in the distance.)
(Jabberwocky’s silhouette is shown center, Alice crosses to hide. )

ACT 1, SCENE 11
(The Queen enters with the Toad and the White Rabbit. Alice overhears their conversation)

[QUEEN SCARY MUSIC PLAYS]

QUEEN
Rabbit, there you are! Why hasn't the intruder been brought to my court? You had one job!

RABBIT
She, she, she…. keeps getting lost. She’s quite impossible.

QUEEN
My Jabberwocky seems to be looking for her. We must find her before they meet again.

RABBIT
Do you fear she.. she.. may still hold a place in its heart?

TOAD
But the Jabberwocky has no heart. The Queen made sure of that!

QUEEN
Hmmmm……..It might remember a time when it did. She has been calling out to it for years,
always searching… but we shall put an end to that now.

RABBIT
Yes, your Majesty.

TOAD

41
 At the Inquisition, she shall be tried for intrusion and stupidity and most definitely found
guilty, then it
shall be…

QUEEN
OFF WITH HER HEAD AND OUT WITH HER HEART! And the Jabberwocky shall stay under my
control forever.

Rabbit, what do you think of this little menace in our midst?

RABBIT
She is…..she is sure to fail because.. because…her heart is far too big.

QUEEN
A big heart you say? (thinking) Sometimes what makes us good, makes us weak.

TOAD
Of course, she is weak indeed. Nothing is more powerful than you, your majesty.

QUEEN
Thank you, my little dumpling. Your loyalty is very important to this kingdom.

Because you know what happens to those who betray me…..?

TOAD
Off with their-

QUEEN
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS AND OUT WITH THEIR HEARTS!! Now, let us return to the court to
prepare for the Inquisition.

Rabbit, you will have Alice at my court by sundown or you shall know the price of failure. Now,
bring me the Alice!

RABBIT
Yes, yes, your majesty. At once. I shall not fail.

QUEEN

42
 Toad!

ACT 1, SCENE 12

(CATERPERPILLER Music. Scene change. A large mushroom is revealed, where the Caterpillar and
Ingrid the inchworm sit smoking a hookah and pontificating. Smoke rings float gently up to the sky.
Soft music plays)

CATERPILLAR
(Speaking to Ingrid in a languid, sleepy voice)
I've looked at life from both sides now Ingrid, and still somehow, it's life's illusions I recall…
and perhaps…… I really don't know life at all…

INGRID
Totally.

CATERPILLAR
(stroking Ingrid’s head) You are a true friend, Ingrid. Remember: words are easy, like the wind;
but faithful friends are hard to find.

INGRID
Totally…

(Alice enters and stares at them. They slowly notice her and they all stare in silence for a moment)
(Alice comes down to meet the caterpillar) no way

CATERPILLAR
Who are you……?

ALICE
I’m Alice.
(tired and frustrated) At least, I was when I woke up this morning.

CATERPILLAR
So you think you’re changed, do you?

ALICE

43
It’s just that today has been so confusing. Why, just this morning, I was chasing a rabbit and fell
quite far and ended up here. And it’s all very peculiar. Here, animals talk and flowers judge me
and there are so many riddles. And, and now I’m talking to a caterpillar who is either very
large or I am very small?

CATERPILLAR
But who are you….?

ALICE
My name is Alice.

CATERPILLAR
I know your name is “Alice,” but again, I ask; Who are you?
Who are you, Alice? Who is the real Alice? It takes courage to grow up and become who you
really are, and I suspect for you that the moment is now.

INGRID
Totally………

ALICE
I just want to know which path to take to get to the Queen’s Court, but no one gives me a
straight answer! (Alice crosses to other side of the caterpillar)

CATERPILLAR
I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a
purpose. The path is not long, but the way is deep. You must not only walk there, you must be
prepared to leap. Are you prepared…… Alice?

ALICE
(reflecting/getting angry/music) Well… I do feel perhaps braver than the Alice I was this
morning. In fact, this Alice is getting angry! Lorena always says to be ladylike, and I try,
but….but….. I think I’m quite done with that!

CATERPILLAR
Hold your temper, Alice. I am glad you are finding these new shades of you…..
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Only the truth of who you are, if realized, will
set you free. (puff)

44
 INGRID
Set you freeeeee……..

CATERPILLAR
Dare to declare who you are, Alice. It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of
speech.
(takes a puff/exhales/smoke rings)
The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people
want you to be. I challenge you to be the real Alice you have always been, the Alice you are
meant to be…..
So I shall ask again……..
(puff)
Who are you……?

ALICE
(building courage/music underscoring - growing courage)
I’m Alice. I’m not a weed or a bug….or, or a guttersnipe. I’m a girl….. and I’m not scared
anymore. I made the Jabberwocky, and I know him. He needs me. (beat) Which way to the court
of The Queen of Hearts?

CATERPILLAR
(motioning offstage)
This is the path, Alice…….. you’ve always been on it.

ALICE
Thank you, Caterpillar. Forgive me for not inquiring for your name.

CATERPILLAR
Call me what you will, for I shall be changed soon enough as it is.

(Alice exits R)

CATERPILLAR
(calling softly after her)
Don’t forget to stop for a spot of tea along the way. One should never hurry past life’s little
pleasures, especially when there are new friends to be made.

INGRID

45
 Totally…..

(Lights fade) [Close with Caterpillar Theme Music]

ACT 1, SCENE 13- The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party - The White Rabbit comes for Alice

(Alice walks down the stairs and comes upon the Mad Hatter Hosting a tea party of absurdities. A
table is set with tea and tarts. The Dormouse sleeps and the March Hare periodically darts under the
table. Music plays, (Music Change) perhaps the Hatter sings a silly tune about tea.)
(Musical change)
(Characters sitting around a decorated table. Hatter music plays. Fades as lines start. )

MARCH HARE
Hatter, would you pass the crumpets?

HATTER
Here you are, Hare. (passes the crumpets)

Would you like jelly with that?

MARCH HARE
No, just a spot of tea—

ALICE
Excuse me. I don’t mean to interrupt your teatime.

HATTER
Is it tea time?!

ALICE
Well, when is tea time in Wonderland?
(Hatter stands up)

HATTER
When is tea time!? Oh my dear Alice, I shall elucidate — in Wonderland, it is always tea time!

46
 MARCH HARE
Why, tea time shall always be precisely at the time for tea!

ALICE
Oh good, I am ever so hungry. How did you know my name—?

HATTER
Stop speaking! you are filled to the brim with questions it seems, always spouting off. But I
suppose here in Wonderland you shall fit right in, as you seem to be nothing but wonder. Won’t
she fit in well, my dear Dormouse?
Dormouse!?
(slams hand on table)

DORMOUSE
(Suddenly awake and suddenly making a toast)
In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream- Lingering in the golden gleam- Life, what is it but a dream?
(sleeps again)

HATTER
I have a silly riddle for you Alice, and if you guess the answer you may indeed sit and have tea
with us.

MARCH HARE
A riddle?! What fun!

HATTER
Ready? (Alice nods)
What starts with a T, ends with a T, and has T in it?
(answering for themself after a beat of thought)
A teapot! I guessed it! Oh goody!
(The March Hare and the Dormouse applaud)
Now sit down, Alice, and pass me a clean tea-cup.

MARCH HARE
It’s tea time?! Dormouse, wake up! It’s tea time.

DORMOUSE

47
 (waking)
Better three hours too soon than a minute too late…..
(sleeping again)

MARCH HARE
Agreed!

HATTER
(go to over to Alice, suddenly shocked) Oh dear, your hair wants cutting! It keeps saying so every
time I look at you. Oh I do wish it would quiet down. March Hare, give Alice a hat at once! One
must always wear a hat when attending the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
{cross}
(Alice continues looking for a cup, finally finding one. March Hare goes under table with hat. Hatter
takes a sip of tea and spits it out in shock. March Hare places a hat on Alice’s head.)
WHY are you drinking your tea like that? Is it possible you have gone mad?

ALICE
(defeated) I am not certain. Perhaps I am quite mad after all….

HATTER
(sincerely/clapping) Oh, I do hope so. I need to tell you something Alice -- all of the best people
usually are. At my tea parties I want only the best people you see. A toast! “To Alice! May she
always wonder but never land and may she always be a touch mad.” {sit back down in chair}

ALL
Toast!
(toast from hatter’s hat?)

HATTER
Toast!? I love toast!

DORMOUSE
(raising her teacup)
Some are born mad, some achieve madness, and some have madness thrust upon 'em!
(sleeps again)

MARCH HARE
Agreed!

48
 ALICE
This is a lovely tea party, but you haven’t by any chance seen a Jabberwocky pass by?

HATTER
(In a strange, crazy voice) We do NOT talk of such things!! (Normal voice) Care for some tea,
love?

MARCH HARE
What a lovely frock. Hatter, would you pass the crumpets?

HATTER
Here you are Hare.

(To Alice) Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk? (To Hare) Would you like jelly with
that?

MARCH HARE
No, just a spot of tea.
(March Hare takes the tea bag from the Hatter and promptly pours it on his crumpet and devours it)

DORMOUSE
(yawns) Is it morning yet? (to Alice) Oh, hello, you’re that girl from the ocean of tears.

ALICE
(thinking) Why is a raven like a writing desk? I can’t figure it out? What’s the answer?

HATTER
What?! Why I haven’t the slightest idea!

ALICE
You must know! You asked me first!

HATTER
I would love to stay and chat, but it’s teatime.

MARCH HARE/DORMOUSE

49
 Teatime!

ALICE
Pardon?

{hatter backs up and goes back onto chair}

(The scene freezes, music, the action reverses to the positions at the beginning of the scene,
Dormouse goes back to sleep on the table, March Hare goes back under the table etc.etc. Alice is
unaffected by the reversal of time and is quite confused.)

ALICE
What is going on?

HATTER
Care for some tea, love?

(March Hare pops out from under the table)

MARCH HARE
(to Alice) What a lovely frock. Hatter, would you pass the crumpets?

HATTER
Here you are Hare
(To Alice) Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk? (To Hare) Would you like jelly with
that?

MARCH HARE
No, just a spot of tea.

ALICE
You haven’t the faintest clue why a raven is like a writing desk!

HATTER
Oh, I suppose I don’t….

It’s tea time!

(March Hare takes the tea bag from the Hatter and promptly pours it on his crumpet and devours it)

50
 DORMOUSE
(yawns) Is it tea time? (to Alice) Oh hello, you’re the girl from the ocean of tears!

MARCH HARE
(To Dormouse) Would you care for some unbirthday cake? ……..Dormouse?

(Dormouse has fallen asleep)

ALICE
[Alice stands]
WHAT IS GOING ON?!!!

HATTER
Sorry madam, have we met?

ALICE
Yes! You just offered me tea! You asked me why a raven is like a writing desk! You told
me it was always tea time!

HATTER
Did I now? Dormouse, do you know this girl?

DORMOUSE
(waking/dreamily)
I do believe I once met her in a great sea far, far away…..

HATTER
Well, she is just in time! It’s tea time!

MARCH HARE
Tea time!

ALICE
Not this again.

(The scene freezes and rewinds just like before )

51
 HATTER
Care for some tea, love?

ALICE
{cross stage right}
WHY ARE YOU ALL STUCK IN THIS INTERMINABLE TEATIME!?

(March Hare pops out from under the table)

(March Hare hops around the table)

MARCH HARE
(sing-song) “Tea time, tea time, it is always tea time.”
You see, time travels at different speeds for different people, Alice. I can tell you who time
strolls for, who it trots for, who it gallops for, and who it stops cold for.
(Dormouse demonstrates each stride)
But now I do believe it is tea time! (to Alice) What a lovely frock. Hatter, would you pass the
crumpets?

HATTER
Would you like jelly with that?

MARCH HARE
No, just----

ALICE
Wait a moment -- didn’t you say this was an unbirthday cake a moment ago?

HATTER
That sounds like madness, but if I said it, it is true because I speak madness with great
authority!

MARCH HARE
Indeed!

ALICE
(getting an idea)
Well, it just so happens that today is my unbirthday.

52
 MARCH HARE
Today?!

HATTER
You don’t say! What luck, why I have baked you an unbirthday cake!

DORMOUSE
(waking up)
Cake?

HATTER
There must be cake! It’s Alice’s very merry unbirthday!
(MUSIC plays and all three sing quickly the “Very Merry Unbirthday” song here to Alice)
Now make a wish and eat up your candle, dear Alice!

ALICE
Any wish I like…..?

MARCH HARE
(suddenly to Alice) What a lovely frock! Hatter, would you pass the crumpets?

HATTER
Would you like a spot of --

ALICE
NO! Stop! I have my wish…..
(blows out the candles)
(cunningly) I wish that I might find friends to accompany me on my journey.

HATTER
Friends?

ALICE
I was following the White Rabbit to the Queen’s inquisition, but I cannot find the way.

HATTER
The Queen’s Rabbit?

53
 ALICE
Yes

HATTER
I knew the Queen once, she’s not as sweet as a raspberry tart I’ll tell you… she’ll bite you in the
arse as sure as you can count to blue.

ALICE
She bites?!!

MARCH HARE
Her Jabberwocky might, if you---

HATTER
Shhhhh ---(slowly) we don’t speak of the WOCKY JABBER.

Now, Alice…….Are you quite certain that friendship is your unbirthday wish?
As certain as a wizard's liskers?!

ALICE
Yes, I-

MARCH HARE
First answer this riddle, Alice.

ALICE
Oh crea and trumpets, wait no I mean tea and crumpets… another riddle!?

DORMOUSE
Ready? What is hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget?

ALICE
(after a beat)
(slowly) What is hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget?
A friend! I solved another one!

54
 HATTER
(they all applaud her success!)
Then friends you shall have indeed! We three are for you Alice. It is, after all, your unbirthday
wish! (suddenly serious) But I must warn you, -- (whispering) we might all be a bit mad.

ALICE
It’s not so bad to be mad. All of the best people usually are.
(they all join hands and exit together. Transition music)

ALL
Agreed!

HATTER
To the Queen’s Inquisition then! It is this way! No I’m wrong, its this way! [Ad lib…]

Act 1 Scene 14
THE QUEEN’S INQUISITION

(MUSIC and Set Change into the Queen’s Court.. The flags are dropped. All of the creatures of
Wonderland enter with great vexcitement.
Onstage R are Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Flowers (Rose/Lily and Daisy). a Fox, and a Dog.
Present stage left are the Caterpillar (now a butterfly) and Ingrid. The White Rabbit is being held
prisoner in a golden bird cage near the Queen’s throne).

(Alice, Hatter, The March Hare, and The Dormouse enter the scene.)

RABBIT
(calling to Alice from the cage)
Oh dear Alice! Oh my ears and whiskers! What are you doing here?!

ALICE
My real friends helped me find the way. Why are you in this cage?!

RABBIT
Alice, you must leave at once. I tried to….

55
 ALICE
I know you were trying to protect me but I decided to come.

(music trumpets as the Queen and Toad enter)

QUEEN
Hatter! Pleasure to see you! I see your canoodling with cookoses!
At last!! Look who has finally decided to make an appearance! No thanks to you, White Rabbit.

HARE
One must always canoodle with cookoses!

HATTER
Agreed!

ALICE
(slightly bowing to the Queen)
Greetings your Majesty. I am Alice. I am the one you seek. I have come on my own accord. It is
not the White Rabbit’s fault I am late.

QUEEN
And you’ve brought along refuse you have acquired in my woods?

ALICE
These are my friends. But I am sure friendship is not something you are accustomed to your
highness.

RABBIT
(whispering to her)
Alice, do not anger the Queen! I was trying to get you lost on purpose you see.

QUEEN
SILENCE RABBIT! I shall deal with your insolence soon enough. There are two empty jars on
my shelf that need to be filled. Don’t they dumpling?

TOAD
Yes, my Queen. This imbecile Rabbit has betrayed you indeed.

56
 TWEEDLE DEE
And this Alice creature seeks to betray you as well!

TWEEDLE DUM
It is said she seeks your Jabberwocky and wants to take it as her own!

ROSE
She doesn’t belong here!

LILY
She is wrong in every way.

DAISY
And she is nothing more than a common weed and all the wrong color!

QUEEN
(crossing to the flowers)
Speaking of color! Is that blue I see? Under what appears to be a fresh coat of paint?!

DAISY
(terrified)
No…...no your Majesty. This…this…. is the way my petals grow. There is no blue indeed.

QUEEN
(reaching down and touching a petal)
PAINT!!
OFF WITH HER HEAD!!

(Music plays as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum drag Daisy offstage as she protests “I am not yellow!
I am not!”)

QUEEN
,Anyone else wish to betray me today?!

(silence)

57
 Then let us begin, Toad.
another trumpet sounds
TOAD
(gavel sound)
Here yee, here yee. The Queen’s Inquisition is in session! I officially call this court to order.

Alice, you are being tried for entering Wonderland without the Queen’s permission and
seeking her Jabberwocky which is not yours to seek!!

QUEEN
Are there any further complaints against this impudent beast?

ROSE
She should be charged with being rude! My sisters and I extended her a warm welcome to
Wonderland and she was ungrateful and wretched.

ALICE
I was not! It was you who--

TOAD
Silence!

TWEEDLE DEE
We found her to be quite simple and not skilled at poetry! Not even a bit!

TWEEDLE DUM
Almost as wittless as THEM!

QUEEN
Add simple mindedness to her charges!

DOG (offnight Hatter)

I saw her steal tarts from the Rabbit’s bag! She is a common thief!

QUEEN
Add thievery to her charges!

58
 FOX (off night Queen)
She nearly drowned us all with her big, sobby, cry baby, tears!

TOAD
Guilty of flooding!

Baddies
Agreed!

TWEEDLE DEE
She’s mad for sure! Look at these addlepated ragamuffins she consorts with!

TWEEDLE DUM
They are even more wittless than she!

HATTER
I object! Discrimination against Raggamuffenry!

MARCH HARE
But I concur we are indeed witless.

HATTER
(little bow)
Indubitably witless

DORMOUSE
Proudly witless.

HATTER
Also, your honor, I can attest to her madness. I can confirm, she is just mad enough indeed.

MARCH HARE
I never met a madder Alice. Why I dare say she is just mad enough to be Alice enough.

CATERPILLAR
(now a butterfly)

59
 May I offer a secondary defense of the Alice? You see, she knows not what she did, because
she knows not who she is!

INGRID
Totally…..

ALICE
Caterpillar! You’ve changed!

CATERPILLAR
So have you dear Alice, in more ways than you know….

TOAD
Silence in the court!!

ALICE
May I speak to my own defense?

RABBIT
Be careful Alice, this trial is already fixed against you.

ALICE
Your Majesty, when I arrived in Wonderland, it was never my intent to stir up any mischief. I
was simply following the White Rabbit who beckoned me…

QUEEN
That’s it! The Rabbit is found guilty of beckoning the Alice! Off with its head, and feed the rest
to the Jabberwocky!

(Tweedle Dee/Dum begin to drag the rabbit from its cage)

ALICE
No!! Wait!! Your Majesty, If you could spare the Rabbit’s life, I shall ……..I shall…….(thinking)

HATTER
(whispering to her)
Offer to fight the Jabberwocky! She loves blood sports!

60
 MARCH HARE
I love bloody sports!

TWEEDLE DEE/DUM
Fight! Fight!

RABBIT
(now out of cage)
Alice, Hatter is right! The Jabberwocky may not gobble you up, not if it remembers you…

ALICE
Remembers me?
(sad music underscoring)
RABBIT
It was I who found your Jabberwocky long ago. It was thrown down my rabbit hole….

ALICE
Lorena!? I knew it!

RABBIT
I had never encountered a tiny creature more filled with love. Your love. It’s heart was so big
and it’s love so deep. I thought it might fill the void of darkness in our Queen, so I brought it to
her. Little did I know she would --

QUEEN
Enough out of you!! The Jabberwocky is mine, and the only love it possesses now is a love of
killing!

ALICE
(crossing to Hatter)
I think I know what to do, I need to defeat the Jabberwocky, but I don’t know how.

HATTER
Don’t do it my friend. The risks are too great. She has taken its heart, it won’t know you.

ALICE
But I must, Hatter, there’s no other way.

61
 HATTER
Well Alice, only the maddest of them all could face it.
(Takes hat off head and places it on Alice)
(Same underscoring as last scene? sad music underscoring)
The master becomes the soldier.

ALICE
Thank you.

QUEEN
Enough of this sentimentality! Toad, take the White Rabbit to it’s death!!

ALICE
NO!!

Your Majesty. Would you agree to a sacrifice?

QUEEN
I do love a midweek sacrifice….go on.

ALICE
I shall sacrifice my life for the White Rabbit……… and I will battle your Jabberwocky. Certainly
it shall tear me to bits, and then you can let the White Rabbit go free and my blood shall surely
satisfy all that has been wronged against you.

QUEEN
What say you Toad?
Is watching the Jabberwocky tear this weed to shreds proper compensation for the wrongs
against us?

TOAD
Whatever pleases your majesty.

QUEEN
What say the court?

TWEEDLE DEE/DUM & FLOWERS & DOG & FOX

Shred her! Kill Her! Blood is such fun! Fight! Fight!

62
 QUEEN
Very well Alice. Your violent demise shall serve as a public reminder to all that this court that
the Queen IS NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH!

BRING IN THE JABBERWOCKY!!!!

(Lights/smoke/scary music/growling as the Jabberwocky enters - choreographed by Mae. After

some scary attempts on Alice’s life and some near misses/ Tweedle Dee and Dum and Flowers
catch Alice as she tries to run and throw her back in. Alice in desperation hears a voice.)

(Cheshire Cat appears/ lights sounds / all characters freeze)

Cheshire Cat music

ALICE
It’s you! Oh my friend! Please tell me what to do! I am surely going to be eaten!

CHESHIRE CAT
Oh Alice. Old friends sometimes take a moment to remember you……..

ALICE
It doesn’t remember me at all!

CHESHIRE CAT
I have a riddle for you Alice…..

ALICE
A riddle! Not now!! I am about to be--

CHESHIRE CAT
What if this riddle holds the answer…? It’s better to know some of the questions, than all of the
answers I always say….

ALICE
But if I solve the riddle, will I win the battle?

CHESHIRE CAT

63
That’s a good question, Alice, but for some questions there are no good answers.

Have I mentioned you only have one guess……..?

(Lights resume / The Jabberwocky begins to descend on Alice once again)

(The Jabberwocky continues to descend on Alice)

ALICE
(music)
Cheshire Cat, tell me the riddle. I need all the help I can get.

CHESHIRE CAT
Very well……answer me this.

I am stolen by the one most loved,

And biggest when you're kindly
I'm lost when you're dejected
And often followed blindly

ALICE
(Clock ticking sound. Repeating the riddle slowly and the Jabberwocky draws closer)
I am stolen by the one most loved,
And biggest when you're kindly
I'm lost when you're dejected
And often followed blindly…..

A HEART! That’s the answer! I solved it! Now what?!

CHESHIRE CAT
(gestures to the jars of hearts)
You’ve always known the answers Alice. They are a part of you.

ALICE
(realizing)

64
 The Jabberwocky’s heart! I must return it!

(runs to the jars of heart)

But which one…?!

(Lights restore)

QUEEN
Jabberwocky! Eat the Alice for lunch!

(the Jabberwocky move slowly towards Alice)

ALICE
(to the Jabberwocky)
I made you. I loved you. Your heart was once part of my own!

CHESHIRE CAT
Better pick one….

(Alice runs to the jars of hearts, and magically, one begins to glow.)

ALICE
I know which one it is! This heart was once filled with goodness and childhood and love. It
should never have been taken from me!

(Alice dashes to the shelf and grabs the glowing heart and runs towards the Jabberwocky, thrusting
the heart into the beast's chest. Lights/music/smoke and the beast breaks into parts and vanishes
offstage, leaving the tiny once loved Jabberwocky toy in its place. The giant Queen puppet also exits
leaving only her human self onstage.)

ALICE
(Everything freezes except a small pool of light on Alice and her now small childhood. She speaks
quietly.Soft underscoring plays. She hugs the tiny Jabberwocky close to her heart)
I have you back. I shall never leave you again. Let’s go home.

CHESHIRE CAT
You did it, Alice. It now seems Wonderland can be all that it was intended to be once again.

65
 CATERPILLAR
You have shown us all who the real Alice is. Never forget her in your journeys.

ALICE
I am sorry to leave you my friends, but there are things I must attend to back home.
(thinks/determined) And adventures to be had.

HATTER
(crossing to Alice)
Wherever you go Alice, lead with a bit of madness in your heart. And when you visit, it shall
always be teatime.

MARCH HARE
Tea time?! Hatter, would you pass the–

ALICE
(interrupting so the loop doesn’t start again)
Perhaps one day I will be back, because I am not sure one ever truly leaves Wonderland.

(false exit)

If you ever need me, send the White Rabbit to fetch me.

(fade music)

HATTER
Oh Mildred, have you been naughty again? Not feeling so powerful now are you? (Aside) Won’t
you ever learn to stop playing with hearts? Come, come…..let’s go have a spot of tea.

(lights fade /music) gentle childlike music INSTEAD

SCENE 14 - Alice’s childhood playroom revealed

(The two small girls who played young Alice (Now ANNA) / Lorena (Now VIVIAN) are playing with
Alice’s childhood toys.)

66
 LORENA
(calling from offstage)
Vivian! Anna!

(entering)
I have a special treat for you girls. Your Aunt Alice is back from India and she has come for a
visit. Now do promise to mind your manners and tidy before she---

ALICE
Girls!

VIVIAN/ANNA
Aunt Alice!!

VIVIAN
Oh please, stay and tell us a story!

ANNA
Were there tigers in India?

VIVIAN
Did you have to battle pirates to escape?

ANNA
Tell us one of your tales, Aunt Alice!

ALICE
I can do better than that! (revealing a notebook) I have written one down! But I have to warn
you, it may give you a fright!! Shall we read it?

VIVIAN/ANNA
Yes! Yes!

LORENA
Very well, girls. And maybe after the story Aunt Alice can stay for a bit and help us bake some
tarts.

ALICE

67
 (grasps hands with her sister)
Definitely.
(turning to the girls)
We will take a bite out of each one.

Now let’s begin. This story is one of my best.

(opens notebook and begins to read)

(INSERT story here)

Once upon a time….there was a young girl who always felt like she didn't fit it. Her hair was
always messy and she was always late. One day
(white Rabbit Theme song again 1st 7 SECONDS)

(music begins towards the end of story as she reads the Hatter and Queen appear in the shadow
screen above. Suddenly The White Rabbit darts across the stage.)

WHITE RABBIT
Oh I am late, I am late…..

(only Anna appears to see the rabbit)

ANNA
Aunt Alice -- did you see that?

ALICE
See what?

ANNA
A white rabbit just darted through the room. And it spoke!

VIVIAN
I saw nothing of the sort. Oh Anna, you must be mad.

ANNA
I’m not mad!

68
 VIVIAN
Yes you are!

ALICE
(gently touching her niece on the cheek/ music underscoring starts)
Anna, even if you are a bit mad, remember…..all the best people usually are.

(Music plays / lights fade to black)

Main Original Alice Title—Lynna’s Piano playing

THE END

69
70