playbill vip

Trying to write a director’s note for Through the Looking Glass has been a challenge because the world of Lewis Carroll (the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) is a complex one filled with word play and fantastical elements. His books Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass have stood the test of time not just as children’s literature, but also as inspiration for plays, movies, musicals, and in recent times, video games. The writers of this musical have altered Through the Looking Glass from a meandering journey across a giant chessboard world filled with magical creatures to a story of survival in that world. Alice becomes a hero, and the Red Queen and White Queen are made into antagonist and protagonist in a civil war instead of just riddle spouting, walking chess pieces. The Red Queen’s transformation into a villain is reminiscent of the behavior of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. Most versions of the Alice story blend elements of both books. This musical stays true to the original Through the Looking Glass book with its characters, but not with its plot. My perspective is that it helps the audience experience the story in a more classic musical theater tradition. When I received the script, I immediately began making changes to the spoken dialogue and music with plenty of input and help from Jenna Windle, our fearless producer, because of the requirements of our company. The writers were generous enough to allow for that so we were able to add the Garden of Live Flowers, which I took directly from the Through the Looking Glass book, and a cast of flashback characters from Alice in Wonderland, the events of which occur before Alice enters the Looking Glass World.

I am astonished at the abilities of this cast. Through the Looking Glass is an adult production being done for you today by 40 + children under the age of 18. I still can’t believe we have made it this far, and it is an honor and a privilege to work with every single one of these young people.

Thank you to all of the performers, parents, family, staff members, the Continuing Education Department at Allegany College of Maryland, our Board of Directors, and you!

~Beau~