Dale Sharp, Yelm High School’s drama club director, said attendees of the program’s production of “Alice in Wonderland” can expect to see quality comparable to a professional show when it begins on Friday, May 24.
But for those expecting to see a rendition similar to Lewis Carroll’s novels, the 1951 Disney film or Tim’s Burton’s live-action films, the show will be quite a bit different. Sharp adapted the script himself, and loosely based it on a children’s theater performance of “Alice in Wonderland” he performed in several years ago at the Olympia Family Theater, as well as to fit his cast’s abilities on stage. He initially built the script for 15 students, but after 50 students auditioned, he doubled his cast.
The biggest difference with Sharp’s script is that two Alices were cast — juniors Cora Hobbs and Thorne Elser. As to why there are two Alices, Sharp said it’s a surprise for viewers and a part of the chaotic nature of a production that his cast described as “unhinged” and “a play purposefully gone wrong.”
“Both Cora and Thorne brought a unique aspect to Alice. Each one has similarities and some differences. I let them evolve their character themselves so that they could become their own Alice,” Sharp said.
Elser said she is blending the 1951 Disney version of Alice’s character and Lewis Carroll’s original character for her own adaptation.
“My character is this person who is obsessed with ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ and she has a little secret that you’ll get to see if you see the show,” she said. “My character jumps in and immediately takes on this role because she sees it as her chance. She will do whatever it takes to make this how she wants it to be.”
Hobbs added that her Alice includes a good mix of the original character and Mia Wasikowska’s rendition in the Tim Burton films, but most of her inspiration came from seeing “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” a ballet by Christian Wheeldon.
“That character was so sassy and overly confident, and I think that really played into my actual character where I stand up and I need to prove to this cast that I can be Alice even though I’m just this random girl from the crowd,” Hobbs said. “Throughout the show, I try to make it my own and really become Alice.”
Drama club students said the show will leave the audience guessing with a number of twists and turns.
“I think the audience is going to be held captive the whole time because everything is changing, and it’s not what you expect,” Hobbs said.
If there is anything to expect in a production filled with the unexpected, junior Brian Donahue, who plays the King of Hearts, said the audience can look forward to a night of comedy and chaos.
“The whole purpose of the play is that everything is not really well set. It’s a play gone wrong. If a play is going wrong, everything’s not going to be exact to character. There’s going to be people purposely messing up because that’s what they’re supposed to be doing for the role,” he said. “It’s crazy and exciting and kind of off a whim. A lot of the cast are being themselves and then also being this character, and you can tell while they’re playing these parts.”
Senior Jade Land, who portrays the Red Queen, said, while audiences of all ages will enjoy the production, children will particularly love the show because of its humor and interactions with the crowd.
“Children are really going to enjoy it because, I mean, it’s ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ There’s princesses and people in crowns on stage,” she said. “I’m super excited for everybody to come to the show.”
With students, teachers, staff and programs in Yelm Community Schools facing cuts or changes with its double levy failure, Sharp said the preparation for “Alice in Wonderland” has been an escape for those stressed about what the future of the program will look like. The program has not yet received word about its future.
“This is a good show for them to express themselves and truly find their own Wonderland,” he said. “Our program started from nothing and was built to where we are now. Yes, it has been by support of the administration, but it has mostly been by the support of the community. The community wants this here. The arts are not only an escape from the harsh realities that we all face on a daily basis, but they are also a welcoming place of belonging for each and every student from all walks of life. Protecting arts and theater is a big piece of my heart. It’s been such a gift to provide big town opportunities to a small town.”
Elser said the program is important to a lot of people around the community and inspires them to come to the school, similarly for other activities or athletics.
“It’s not just the theater program that deserves to be kept. It’s everything. I know there are kids from different schools who were so excited to come to this school because we have so many opportunities, and they’re going to disintegrate, and no one is going to get to do these things that they were excited to do because people didn’t want their taxes raised,” she said.
Hobbs added that theater brings joy to people of all ages, but especially to the cast and crew who work relentlessly to perfect their craft for the audience. When the club visited elementary schools in the district for a short performance of “Seussical: The Musical” in the winter, they asked students to raise their hands if they wanted to be a part of theater in high school, and dozens of hands shot up to the sky.
“The community that I’ve built since my freshman year and the way that I’ve seen shows change people’s lives is absolutely incredible,” she said. “The feeling of the final bow and everybody’s clapping for you, I’ve watched people’s faces light up. That is such an important part for so many people here. It is something that needs to be protected. It’s something that the community feels, too. When we feel that joy of, ‘We just did a show and that’s so exciting,’ they feel that, too, and they can see it.”
Donahue, who participated in the YHS walkout on May 15, said decreasing funding for the program or cutting it entirely would hurt people’s dreams of acting or producing, including his own. He hopes to pursue a career in acting and got his first chance with this production.
“This is something a lot of people value. We need art for many things, especially kids here that want to express themselves,” he said. “Without art, school would be boring. These are things that we actually need for people to even want to stay here and have a more enjoyable experience in school.”
Opening night for “Alice in Wonderland” is at 7 p.m., Friday, May 24, at the Performing Arts Center. The drama club will perform four more shows, including at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at 7 p.m., Friday, May 31, and the final show will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 1. Tickets are on sale at https://gofan.co/app/school/WA23372 and cost $5.
