Deliriously Delightful Alice at Joffrey

Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon makes big ballets in vision, imagination  and cast size.  His Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland which just premiered with the Joffrey Ballet at the Civic Opera House is enormous: nearly 3 hours long and a visual smorgasbord with a legion of colorful and compelling characters, it is an embarrassment of riches. It is also the must see ticket of our cool spring: it will take you to a fantasy universe far from the trials and tribulations of our times. Escape your troubles It begins with a garden party in 1862 and Alice, danced by the diminutive powerhouse Amanda Assucena, is flirting with Jack, the help, the dashing Alberto Velazquez.  Mama, the imperious Victoria Jaiani, does not approve.  When Lewis Carroll, taking family photos, grows a rabbit tail and disappears down a suddenly appearing hole in the garden, all manner of unlikely events occur. This ballet remains true to most of the beloved story points. Jon Driscoll and Gemma Carrington’s projections are suitably hallucinatory and the trippy and marvelous Cheshire Cat spectacle puppet by Toby Olié is worth the price of admission. Bob Crowley's costume and scenic design is an ever expanding universe of surprise and delight: when Jaiani morphs into an ever enlarging Red Queen, at one point with her king David Gombert hiding in her skirt, it caps one of the most refined comedic performances on stage right now.  The dancing, as ever with the Joffrey, is world class.  The live score, written by Joby Talbot and conducted by Scott Speck, is terrific. The use of Academy students as the world’s most adorable hedgehogs and limber flamingos (more puppets too in the croquet game) is brilliant. 

In short there is everything right with this ballet and you mustn’t be late, be late for a very important date with this beautiful production. And bring the whole family: there is no age that won’t find something simply gorgeous on this stage.  

You haven’t got much time: the Joffrey Ballet rendering of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is only on Thursday through Sundays until June 22, 2025 at the Civic Opera House 20 N Wacker Drive in Chicago’. For tickets and information go to https://joffrey.org/performances-and-tickets/alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland/

For a taste of this banquet go here: https://youtu.be/8yDoCEMasRs

Photos by Cheryl Mann

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