Review: Ballet Victoria brings ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to town 

Rachel Benton

Last week, I gave JOLT readers a sneak peek at what was coming to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts stage: Ballet Northwest’s presentation of Ballet Victoria’s "Alice in Wonderland." Well, this one show only performance on Nov. 7 lived up to the hype — and then some! 

This production promised whimsy and artistry, storytelling and humor, all paired with incredible choreography and talent.

As wonderful as those elements were, the performance offered something even more meaningful: an opportunity for everyone in the audience to see what is possible with hard work, dedication, community support, and love.

The audience included not only regular balletgoers, but also Thurston County dancers with big dreams of their own. Looking back, that added perspective makes what I witnessed on stage all the more meaningful. 

See what I mean in my review of Ballet Victoria’s "Alice in Wonderland."  

The review 

What stood out to me when I first learned about this upcoming performance was the idea that the characters in "Alice in Wonderland" can be seen as parallels to people we encounter in our own lives.

Paired with Ballet Victoria’s distinctly British approach to telling this story, I can now see how Wonderland's quirky characters represent different British archetypes. It made me appreciate the story more than I ever had before!  

However, as the idea of Wonderland suggests, the possibilities are endless, and Ballet Victoria proved that with its clever attention to detail.

For instance, Tweedledee and Tweedledum were reimagined as silent film characters, reminiscent of Abbott and Costello. There was even a brief moment when the White Rabbit broke into a moonwalk just like Michael Jackson!

I loved these personal touches because they didn't take away from the artistry or storytelling. Instead, they added another layer of connection for audience members who may not be as familiar with ballet, but certainly recognize the pop culture references.  

It almost goes without saying that the quality of dance Ballet Victoria brought to the stage was stunning. We naturally expect that from a professional company, but what made this one extraordinary was the perfect balance it struck between storytelling, comedy, and elegance.

This was a ballet worthy of the grandest stages, yet it was also genuinely entertaining for everyone, regardless of how familiar they might be with ballet. I tip my hat to Ballet Victoria for pulling off something like this without ever feeling disingenuous. 

Without a program to reference and name specific performers, I can only applaud the dancers by their character names. Some of my favorite characters on stage were the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, the caterpillars and butterflies, and flamingos.

Oddly enough, my favorite costumes belonged to the playing cards. Their dresses were so lovely that I found myself wishing I could somehow add them to my own wardrobe! They suited the characters perfectly, while remaining wonderfully elegant with an old Hollywood glamour.  

Before seeing this production, I wasn't sure what I would think about using projections in place of traditional ballet sets. As it turns out, I enjoyed them just as much, particularly because they created additional opportunities for storytelling.

That's especially valuable in a story like "Alice in Wonderland," which takes place across so many different settings. Paired with the lighting design, the overall production design was downright magical. 

One moment that particularly delighted me was when Alice grew and shrank while trying to fit through the door to Wonderland. Through a combination of shadows, colored lighting, and intentional distance from a stage light, the production made Alice appear much smaller or larger than she normally would be on stage. 

The only other time I've seen a similar lighting effect was in Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms." It was one of my favorite effects in that film, so seeing something similar brought to life right before my eyes was an absolute delight. It's such a simple, effective, and timeless theatrical trick. Local performing arts companies, take note! 

Blending modern innovations with nostalgic traditions, Ballet Victoria created a show for everyone, and I wish more people could have seen it.

That's the bittersweet thing about performances that take place just once: It's disappointing that more people don't get the opportunity to experience them, but there's also something magical about knowing that only a relatively small handful of people got to share that exact experience. There's a special connection in that; one I hope none of you will ever miss out on. 

This is why I encourage you to keep following this column and watching for the opportunities I share through my writing, as well as those events featured on the JOLT events calendar so that you never miss out on the opportunity to watch magic unfold in front of you on our local stages.  

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.