Alice at the Palace (Broadway Theatre Archive)
by Emile Ardolino
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Actor: Betty Aberlin, Debbie Allen, Meryl Streep, Richard Cox, Stuart Baker-BergenDirector: Emile Ardolino
Brand: Kultur
Editor: Girish Bhargava
Producer: Joseph Papp
Writer: Elizabeth Swados
Writer: Lewis Carroll
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 72 minutes
Published: 2002-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2002-06-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
DVD Reviews of Alice at the Palace (Broadway Theatre Archive)
DVD Review: Alice Becomes Streep (or vice versa!)
Summary: 5 Stars
Composer Elizabeth Swados created something unique in her adaptation of
Carroll's two classics weaving them - not seamlessly - into a two act,
somewhat disjointed, non-traditional and at times difficult musical theatre
piece, she labels a "Music Hall." As odd as that may sound, that
disjointed, fragmentary nature is precisely where it's charms lay. Like
Carroll's original, Swados's version is a work best taken in on its own,
episodic, mixing logic with the illogical, fascinating word play, an almost
stream of consciousness and whimsy mixing with fantasy, resolve, and the
wonderment of childhood viewed through the sentimentality - and detachment -
of adulthood. It is a weird piece.
Swados's score invokes jazz, blues, classical music, rock, ballads both of
the American and Old British Isle variety and a good strong dose of middle
eastern music. Though "modern" - at least a bit - when new, it definitely
feels of a certain age, and that too is part of its charm.
Here in a television studio Meryl Streep recreates her Alice in a slightly
re-worked version from the Joe Papp production she'd done at the Public
Theatre. And what an astonishing Alice it is. At about a minute past 30
years of age, Streep looks remarkably young and exudes a girlishness that
is never arch or false. She can capture a child's wild mood swings from
exuberant radiance - to frightened despair or total confusion in a single
gesture and the blink of an eye. She moves with the grace of a dancer and
her all purpose pink jumpsuit and wild mane of hair lend more than a
suggestion of Sir John Tenniel's famous illustrations (particularly one of
the final visions, where Queen Alice falls asleep on the throne, the too
large crown slipping at an angle).
Streeps attempt at croquet with a limp, stuffed flamingo is a study in dead
pan hilarity and boredom. While nimble enough in the faster numbers her
voice takes on a noble beauty in the slower, more ballad-like
numbers, "Beautiful Soup" and "An Aged, Aged Man."
Other favorites include the hypnotic "Eating Mushrooms" ("curiouser and
curiouser") where Streep captures perfectly confusion, anxiety and ennui as
she sings "I have never been in such a state before . . . I suppose it is a
regular day if your mad."
Then there is the beautiful "What There Is" with Swados using middle
eastern sounding melodies, full of western music no-no's like parallel 3rds
and fifths over single note drones. It is contemplative, hypnotizing,
radiant and joyful in a way no "big number" from a typical musical could
be. Rather Monteverdian in its quiet beauty.
The ensemble, playing a myriad of roles includes Debbie Allen, Michael
Jeter and Mark Linn-Baker.
The production is low-budget and resembles something might well have seen
on The Muppet Show back in the 80's. It is ingeniously directed, decently
lit and allows an extremely talented cast to tell the story on their own
terms.
Those looking for something more "coherent" and linear in a musical might
end up being perplexed for those willing to go along for the ride it's a
joyous one indeed.
Nice to see this long-hidden little gem released onto DVD. (It's available
through culture, or your usual drug, er . . . I mean DVD dealer).
Description of Alice at the Palace (Broadway Theatre Archive)
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