Answering to Alice
A fantastical story, first read through child’s eyes
meeting a white rabbit and a girl, simple and polite
following a rabbit down a hole, curious she was, if not bright
swishing past cupboards and bookshelves, tumbling into make-believe
falling with her, down a long tunnel and in my childhood dreams
into a land of wonder with nonsensical imaginative scenes
Fantastic absurdity came to life, seen through adult eyes
a night of experiences that began before stepping inside
patrons taking notice of theater windows and doors transformed
greeted by characters set in faux stained glass, the entrance colorfully adorned
receptive hugging and carefree conversing no longer the norm, masks and gloves now worn
assigned a diamond, spade, club, or heart, then asked to stand safely apart
Ushered by a hurried and furryed one, crossing a threshold reveals delighted eyes
that have greatly missed seeing entertainers perform live
more than just an audience, each of us becoming part of the show
for ninety minutes, answering to Alice, leaving behind all we know
or thought we did, when entering a corridor, replicating Alice’s descent
landing sweetly in intoxicating frosting, just in time for a mad tea party with no end
the March Hare and the Hatter captivating us with greeting, teasing, dancing, and pleasing
Rushing in, the white rabbit appeared again, coaxing us from the feast for eyes
taking us deeper into the labyrinth, pausing to analyze, command central for spies
escaping a room of secrets and puzzles, some were solved, some were not
making a wish by a flowing well, painting pink roses red, not allowed to stop
a hookah-smoking mushroom-lounging caterpillar entertained while we sipped and confessed
fitting songs belted by a ring-forming talent, moving on after secrets revealed, thirsts quenched
Vanishing reality, now seeing this enchanted world through Alice’s eyes
feeling elated, a bit hazy too, what could possibly follow a lounge so sublime
standing in the distance – Tweedledee and Tweedledum, comic relief must be due
joking and verbally sparring, the boisterous two, drawing us into a mysterious room
spying many objects around, hearing many sounds overhead, a nonsensical poem was said
scurrying, seeing more before entering a chamber, blood-red, where the feared Queen did await
I can so no more, or it’s off with my head!
Best viewed on a desktop, due to line lengths.
The only downside to the entertaining evening was that I wasn’t dressed in costume dancing with the Hatter and the Hare. 🐰 Fortunately, I have danced with Paul Pedersen (March Hare), when he was teaching a routine from “All that Jazz.” So much talent and a gifted teacher too! 🎭 Have a fantastic weekend and if you do tumble down the rabbit hole, enjoy the journey! 😃
Photo 1: Hahnna Christensen as The Caterpillar, photo by Josiah Duka Photo 2: Paul Pedersen as March Hare, Christine Ward as Mad Hatter, photo by DeAndrea Vaughn Photo 3: Paul Pedersen as March Hare Additional Credits: Hair and Makeup by DeAndrea Vaughn, Costumes by Elizabeth Peterson
© 2019-2023 MyInspiredLife
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My Inspired Life 
Your words capture the experience so perfectly, so thoroughly! TheaterWorks outdid themselves. Theater, like poetry touches the soul.
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you kd! They really did an outstanding job – I need to go again just to take it all in. 😀 A fun night and a fun write! 😉
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Great poetic summary of an amazing experiential night at the theater. Only genius Chris Hamby could come up with a way to produce quality theater during a pandemic.
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Thank you kindly. Chris is a creative genius and the actors were incredible. What a treat! 😄
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So happy you tumbled down the rabbit hole with us. I love what you’ve written about the experience! I love when we have the creative opportunities to explore, to play, to create! TheaterWorks and Chris Hamby have done what the arts are meant to do – innovate. Being immersed in artistic endeavors feeds the body, mind, and soul.
Thanks Michele!
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My pleasure and honor. 🥰 I would love to tumble again! 😀 Wonderful to experience the arts again, through their creative experience, so much more than a show. I appreciate everyone-the talent, the time spent on the sets. Wow!
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Wonderful experience. Thank you for transporting us there!
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Happy to do so. 😀 Theater transformed! 👏👏👏
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This sounds like a fantastic night out – and you turned it into such a wonderfully evocative poem! There is an Alice in Wonderland ride in the amusement park I used to visit every year as a kid, and I’ve since taken my kids on it and we were all truly enchanted!
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It was quite fun! Thank you for reading and for your positive feedback on my poem. How fun and special to share your childhood memories with your children, carrying on with a tradition. 😊
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Michele, the costumes that I see here are fantastic.
Some time ago I was able to visit the costume department in a great theater. I was also able to visit the tailoring and the wig makers. It was so interesting. The costumes were funny, curious, beautiful, some creepy, others gorgeous.
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The experience is found at a small local theater, but still a great theater. 😉 They always impress! They outdid themselves with this original performance. The video highlights a few of the sets, but being there was a highly engaging experience! Sounds like you had a fun theater experience too. I imagine being in a room full of costumes would be quite interesting. 🎭😀
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Oh yes, Michele, it was very interesting. There was also a special room, in which there were costumes that were no longer used. They were put up for sale. I’ve looked at them. Unfortunately I don’t have the opportunity to wear such elaborate costumes. 😦
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I could get lost in there. A costume party!! Everyone required to wear a mask, of course. 😷 Thank you for sharing. 😀 Were you able to take photos?
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Omg I wish I were there with you. Sounds so much fun. You have been so descriptive in the details ..
quite a cinematic write, Michele. You are some screenplay writer.. let’s get the cameras rolling .. you really put it out there , an experience for your readers.
Thank you.
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I wish you were too! That would have been a treat and you would have loved every minute of it. I haven’t written a screenplay, but you give me the encouragement to give it a go. Thank you. 😊
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You could very easily write a screenplay. Give it a shot .. I just think you still haven’t explored your full potential.
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Your motivational words are a nice way to start my day. Thanks! 🙏🏻 💗
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Have a fruitful day, Michele..stay safe.
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You as well. 😊 Thanks for the inspiration, both here and through your moving and creative poems. 🥰
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Always here 🤗❤️
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