Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass facts for kids

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass is a stage play from 2001. It brings to life two famous books by Lewis Carroll: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (from 1865) and Through the Looking-Glass (from 1871). The play was written by Adrian Mitchell.

How the Play Began

Adrian Mitchell created this play for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He imagined the famous "Golden Afternoon" of July 4, 1862. On this day, Charles Dodgson (who we know as Lewis Carroll) first told the Alice stories. He shared them with his friend Robinson Duckworth and the Liddell children: Alice Liddell, Lorina, and Edith. Dodgson later wrote these stories down. He gave the handwritten book, Alice's Adventures Under Ground, to Alice Liddell in November 1864.

What Happens in the Play

Act 1: Alice's Wonderland Adventures

The Beginning

On a warm summer day, July 4, 1862, Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) is on the river Thames in Oxford. He is with his friend Canon Duckworth and the three Liddell sisters. Alice Liddell asks for a story. As they sit by the river, Dodgson begins his tale. Alice Liddell becomes the "Alice" from the story.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Suddenly, "Alice" sees a strange White Rabbit. It wears a waistcoat and carries a watch, complaining it's late. Alice follows the rabbit into a hole. She falls deep down, thinking about physics and her cat, Dinah. The other characters sing about her long fall.

Alice lands in a pile of leaves. She sees the White Rabbit again, but it vanishes. She finds herself in a hall with many doors. Through a tiny door, she sees a beautiful garden. It's too small for her to fit through. She then finds a cake marked "Eat Me." Alice eats it and grows very tall. She cries because the garden is now even further away. The White Rabbit returns but runs off when he sees giant Alice. Alice finds a bottle marked "Drink Me." She drinks it and shrinks very fast. She tries the garden door again, but it's locked. She can't reach the key. Alice feels lonely and tries to recite a poem. Instead, she recites a funny version of "How Doth the Little Crocodile."

A crocodile from the poem appears, startling Alice. She falls into a pool of her own tears. There, she meets a Mouse who dislikes cats and dogs. The Mouse invites her to hear his story when they reach the shore.

On the shore, Alice meets familiar-looking animals. These are the Duck, Dodo, Lory, and Eaglet. They act like exaggerated versions of Duckworth, Dodgson, Lorina, and Edith. The Dodo suggests a "caucus race" to dry off. Everyone runs in a circle, and the Dodo declares everyone has won. Alice gives out sweets from her pocket as prizes. They then listen to the Mouse's confusing story. Alice accidentally offends the Mouse, and he leaves. Alice daydreams about her cat, scaring the other animals away. Alone, Alice decides to try and grow bigger again.

Strange Meetings

Alice meets a Caterpillar who keeps asking, "Who are you?" Alice isn't sure who she is after all the changes. They argue about changing size. The Caterpillar asks her to recite "You are Old Father William." Father William and his son appear and perform the poem. The Caterpillar says Alice's recitation was wrong. He tells her to eat from a mushroom to change her size. He falls asleep. Alice tries two pieces of the mushroom and becomes a normal height. She thanks the tiny Caterpillar and walks into a wood.

Outside a grand house, Alice sees a Fish-Footman and a Frog-Footman. They are delivering an invitation from the Queen of Hearts to the Duchess for a croquet game. Alice laughs at their strange actions. She talks to the Frog-Footman, who says he will sit outside for days. Alice gets annoyed and goes into the noisy house.

Inside, the kitchen is chaotic. A crazy Cook, a grumpy Duchess, a strange baby, and a grinning Cheshire Cat are there. Alice argues with the Duchess. She observes the constantly grinning Cheshire Cat. The Cook throws plates. Alice is shocked when the Duchess seems to think her baby is a pig. After a strange lullaby, the Duchess gives the baby to Alice. The Duchess rushes off to play croquet. Alice worries about the baby's safety. But then, the baby turns into a pig, and Alice has to let it go.

Alice sees the Cheshire Cat in a tree. She asks for advice on whom to visit next. The Cat suggests the Hatter or the March Hare, saying both are mad. Alice doesn't want to be with mad people. The Cat says everyone in Wonderland is mad, even her. It explains why it's mad and then disappears, leaving only its grin. Alice decides to visit the March Hare.

The Mad Tea Party

Alice finds a tea party with the March Hare, the Hatter, and a Dormouse. They tell her there's no room, even though there is. Annoyed, Alice sits down anyway. The March Hare enjoys confusing her. The Hatter asks a riddle with no answer. The Hatter complains that the March Hare put butter in his watch. Time has stopped for them because the Hatter argued with Time itself. This happened after a bad song at the Queen's concert. The Hatter sings a bit of his song, a funny version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat." The March Hare suggests a new topic, and the Hatter wants a story. They wake the sleepy Dormouse, who tells a strange tale about three sisters who lived in a well and drew treacle. Alice questions the story's logic, and the Hatter insults her. Angry, Alice leaves. No one notices her go. She looks back to see the Hatter and March Hare trying to put the Dormouse in the teapot.

Alice sees a door with a tree in it. She goes through and finds herself back in the hall of doors. She takes the gold key from the glass table. She opens the door to the lovely garden. Now the right size, Alice finally enters the beautiful garden.

The Queen's Croquet Game

At the garden entrance, Alice sees three card gardeners. They are painting white roses red. They explain they planted the wrong color roses. If the Queen found out, they would be beheaded. Just then, the Queen and her group arrive. The terrified gardeners lie flat. Alice sees the White Rabbit among the guests. The Queen and King ask Alice her name. Alice bows politely. But the Queen gets angry when Alice says she doesn't know who the gardeners are. The Queen orders Alice's head to be chopped off. The King asks her to reconsider, saying Alice is just a child. The Queen then takes her anger out on the gardeners. She sees the roses are white and orders their beheading. Alice quickly hides the gardeners.

The Queen invites Alice to a strange game of croquet. Flamingos are mallets, cards are arches, and hedgehogs are balls. Alice bumps into the White Rabbit, who says the Duchess is in prison. The croquet game starts before he can say more. Alice struggles with her hedgehog and flamingo. The Queen orders everyone to be executed, and players cheat constantly. Annoyed, Alice is about to leave. The Cheshire Cat's head appears in the sky. Happy to see a friend, Alice complains about the game. The King asks to meet the Cat, but the Cat is rude to him. The King wants the Cat removed, starting an argument. Alice suggests calling the Duchess, as it's her cat. The executioner goes to fetch the Duchess. The Cat's head disappears before the Duchess arrives.

Alice walks with the Duchess, who is in a better mood. The Duchess shares her love for silly morals. But she stops when the Queen appears. The Queen tells the Duchess to leave or lose her head. The Duchess hurries away. Alice and the Queen return to croquet. The Queen orders more executions. Now in a better mood, she takes Alice to see the Mock Turtle. Alice has never heard of one.

At the seashore, Alice meets a Gryphon. It takes her to the sad Mock Turtle. He is sad because he has nothing to be sad about. They talk about their school days under the sea. They teach Alice a dance and song called "The Lobster Quadrille." After an argument, the Mock Turtle sings another song about soup ("Beautiful Soup"). A fanfare sounds, and the White Rabbit announces a trial is starting. The Gryphon drags Alice away from the seashore. The Mock Turtle keeps singing.

The Trial and Waking Up

In the royal court, the trial of the Knave of Hearts begins. All Wonderland residents watch. The King of Hearts is the judge, and the White Rabbit is the herald. The White Rabbit reads the accusation, based on a famous rhyme. The Hatter is called to give evidence. His evidence is confusing because he is nervous. The evidence turns into an argument about spelling between the Hatter and the King. The Queen recognizes the Hatter and orders his beheading after the trial. The next witness, the Duchess's Cook, refuses to give evidence. The Dormouse talks in its sleep, and the Queen orders its beheading. The Cook disappears. Alice wonders who the next witness will be. She is shocked when she is called. Alice says she knows nothing. The King thinks this is important. The White Rabbit corrects him, and the King gets confused about "important" and "unimportant." The White Rabbit announces a letter written by the Knave. He sings the verses to the court. The King declares it the best evidence. Alice eats a tart and grows very tall. She interrupts the King, explaining the verses have no meaning. The King over-analyzes them. He asks the Jury to decide. The Queen shouts that the sentence should be given first. Alice argues with the Queen, who then calls for Alice's head. A pack of cards rises and attacks Alice.

Alice wakes up in an armchair in her living room. The cards attacking her are just cards from a table she knocked over. Her sisters, playing chess, look at her, worried. Alice tries to tell them about her dream. But Edith, her younger sister, is more excited that it has started to snow outside.

Act 2: Through the Looking-Glass

This act continues Alice's adventures, based on the second book, Through the Looking-Glass. It features new characters and songs.

Main Characters and Cast Members

Musical Numbers

Act 1: Alice's adventures in Wonderland

• "Golden afternoon" - Dodgson, Duckworth, Alice Liddell, Lorina Liddell, Edith Liddell and Company
• "Down, Down, Down" - Company
• "How Doth the Little Crocodile..." - Alice, Crocodile Voice
• "Fury Said to a Mouse..." - Mouse and Company
• "You are Old Father William...." - Father William, Youth
• "Wow! Wow! Wow!" - Duchess, Cook, Baby, Cheshire Cat and Company
• "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat" - Hatter
• "The Lobster Quadrille" - Mock Turtle, Gryphon and Company
• "Beautiful Soup" - Mock Turtle, Gryphon and Company
• "The Queen of Hearts..." - White Rabbit
• "They told me you had been to her..." - White Rabbit

Act 2: Through the Looking-Glass

• "Moonlight on the Mirror" - Alice and Company
• "The Jabberwocky" - Alice, Father, Youth and Company
• "Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee..." - Alice and Company
• "The Walrus and the Carpenter" - Tweedle-Dum, Tweedle-Dee, Walrus, Carpenter and Company
• "Humpty Dumpty..." - Alice
• "In Winter when the fields are White..." - Humpty Dumpty
• "The Lion and the Unicorn..." - Company
• "Haddocks Eyes (A-sitting on a Gate)" - White Knight, Aged Aged Man
• "Welcome Queen Alice" - White Rabbit and Company
• "Hushaby Lady" - Red Queen, White Queen, Alice
• "Golden Afternoon (Reprise) - Dodgson, Duckworth, Alice Liddell, Lorina Liddell, Edith Liddell and Company

Revivals

The play was performed again in 2010 by the Youth Theatre at the Chichester Festival Theatre. This performance received better reviews than the first one. For example, The Argus newspaper praised Emily Dyble's "delightful" acting as Alice.

This play has become popular with amateur and university drama groups. Many community theaters now perform it because it's easy to get permission to stage it. [1]