Wonderland Comes Alive at Martinez Junior High School

Martinez Junior High School opened its spring production of Alice in Wonderland, Jr., Thursday night.  The production was reflective of its cast: creative, savvy and at times a bit snarky. For many of the ensemble cast of 6th, 7th and 8th graders this production culminates their first year of Drama class.  At this point, though they all seem like pros despite last minute costume and prop preparations that are typical of opening night shows. 

Parents, teachers and friends mingled outside the Martinez Junior High School auditorium as the cast gathered onstage behind the closed curtain to go through their warm up ritual.  The cast hissed, and hummed, and ran through vocal exercises to become more focused.  They were led by Director Gail Haefke, a retired choir teacher who volunteers her time with the Drama Department.

At the end of the warm up, Drama teacher Kayleen Parks gave them a pep talk, reminding them to “create the illusion for the audience like we create it for ourselves…each moment you are on stage you are in character.” Although Parks only started teaching Drama 3 years ago, she seems to be a natural, with a great command voice and easy rapport with her students.

As the cast left the stage to continue with makeup and other preparations the audience members filled the wooden chairs of the vintage auditorium which was built in the early 1930’s. And before long Ms. Parks appears on the stage to introduce the show. 

Parks explained that the production is an entirely student run show. Although the students had plenty of adult help with direction, choreography and technical support, it is the kids who run the show, the lights, sound and stage manage. They even helped design and create the costumes.

The costumes were simple with a clever use of color, strictly black and white for Alice’s real world and vibrant colors for Wonderland, that allowed the cast to showcase their abilities of stage presence and body language.  The cast also proved their creativity with a display of low tech effects for the fantastical script.  They created a vortex, a good illusion of an ocean of tears and used three separate girls in the role of Alice to represent small, large and regular Alice.  Other effects, specifically those performed by the three students, who played the Cheshire Cat were done tongue in cheek.  The use of three performers in the role of the Cheshire Cat also transformed the character into a type of Greek chorus that helped the play move along.

The play, adapted from the Disney film, includes many musical numbers including a great version of “Zipppity-Doo-Da,” led by a very cool Caterpillar.  There’s also some clever jokes that pay homage to pop culture with references to the Terminator movie and Monty Python.

The play runs March 25th, 31st and April 1st at the Martinez Junior High School Auditorium. All performances are at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $7.00 for General Admission and $5.00 for Students with a Student Body Card.