Tonight Ella and I had a mother-daughter Valentine’s outing, and the highlight of our evening was the Queen of Hearts. After a delicious dinner at Wunderbar in Covington we went to the Aronoff Center downtown to see the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of ALICE (in wonderland). It was magnificent, mesmerizing and magical. Alice was adorable, the Queen was beautifully frightening, and the Cheshire Cat was creepy and cool. And that’s just to name a few characters….there are simply too many to list! There’s also the White Rabbit, several different beautiful birds, the caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, Sleepy Door Mouse, and many more. All of the performances were flawlessly executed, to music exquisitely played by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. I really don’t have adequate words to describe how much I loved this ballet or time enough to talk about my favorite parts (all of the parts). Every time a scene ended I thought “Well, THAT is my favorite scene!”, and then the next scene would start and I’d think the same thing about that scene. All I can say is that this rendition of Alice in Wonderland is just fabulous, and I highly recommend you get your tickets NOW and see the show this weekend.
Details about ALICE (in wonderland) ::
Cincinnati Ballet presents the return of the wildly popular ALICE (in wonderland) this Valentine’s Day weekend,February 13-15 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Audiences have five opportunities to see this bold, spectacular take on Lewis Carroll’s classic stories with live instrumentation by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
From the revolutionary vision of The Washington Ballet’s Septime Webre, ALICE (in wonderland) is refreshingly original, having premiered regionally in 2012, and showcases modern production elements such as elaborate, eye-popping scenery and characters who take flight. The production features gorgeous costumes by Liz Vandal and a commissioned score by Matthew Pierce. Cincinnati audiences may be familiar with Webre as the choreographer of Cincinnati Ballet’s praised production of Peter Pan, performed earlier this season. Liz Vandal is a celebrated costume designer whose unique, elaborate designs have graced the stage of Cirque du Soleil.
The original score was created for an ensemble orchestra, but Cincinnati audiences will experience a version that is expanded to utilize the breadth of the magnificent Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Webre worked closely with composer, Pierce, throughout the creative process to give each character its own unique musical sound effects, bringing each of the favorite characters to life on stage. The vibrant cast is comprised of a combination of Cincinnati Ballet dancers, children from the Otto M. Budig Academy and even some larger than life puppets. When paired with Pierce’s unique score, they are sure to pull the audience right down the rabbit hole with Alice.
“‘Alice’ is a treat. A triumph. A blockbuster, too,” writes Cincinnati Enquirer Contributor, David Lyman. “…Smart, wildly entertaining, occasionally dark, this is the sort of production that reassures you that what some think of as an archaic art form has a lively, intriguing future.”
STORY
Webre, with his typical flair for storytelling, draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s classic tales Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. A polite and well-mannered child, Alice finds herself in a fantastical but irreverent world where the rules of social etiquette don’t matter and time is irrelevant. She learns how to adapt to this new world and eventually becomes the heroine that brings down the Queen of Hearts and her house of cards.
Webre’s unique take results in an unusual twist. As Alice chases the White Rabbit into Wonderland, the wacky characters she discovers are oddly familiar. Although she can’t quite make the connection, the audience discovers that Alice’s overbearing mother has become the Queen of Hearts, her sisters have become Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and Lewis Carroll has become the Mad Hatter.
Visually stunning and filled with wonder, Webre’s vibrant new take on Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece is an experience not to be missed!
Ticket Information: ALICE runs from February 13- February 15 at the Aronoff Center. To find out more about show times and ticket pricing call 513.621.5282, visit cballet.org or visit the Cincinnati Ballet Box Office at 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214 Tickets start at $32
Get your tickets now! They are selling like hotcakes! And it’s this weekend only!
Disclaimer: I was given two tickets for my family to attend the show. The opinions are 100% my own!
All photos are ©Peter Mueller, provided by the Cincinnati Ballet
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