4/3/17 ALICE 2-4.DOC- Studio 570
CAST
Alice
Sister
White Rabbit
Mad Hatter
March Hare
Dormouse
Cheshire Cat
Dodo
Caterpillar
Queen of Hearts
King of Hearts
Knight 1
Knight 2
Knave
Scene 1: Garden(Courtyard)
Alice
Sister
White Rabbit enters and disappears down rabbit hole
Scene 2: Rabbit Hole (Film, Elevator)
White Rabbit
Alice
Dodo Scene(Caucus-Race)
Note: Transition is being wet from Alice’s tears and needing to dry off Dodo suggests the Caucus Race
Ends with prizes. Alice bowing to accept thimble
Caterpillar’s Advice
Alice
Caterpillar
Cheshire Cat Scene
Tea Party Scene
Queen’s Croquet Scene
Court Scene(Who Stole the Tarts)
Alice and the Cat ?
Act 1
Scene 1– Garden
(Alice building a house of cards, Sister with a book seated beside her)
Sister
Alice, put those cards away, time for lessons.
(Alice looks up from cards, sister begins reading from book)
Golden Afternoon Poem
All in the golden afternoon
Full leisurely we glide;
For both our oars, with little skill,
By little arms are plied,
While little hands make vain pretence
Our wanderings to guide.
(Alice peers over edge of book)
Alice
Where are the pictures?
Sister
There are no pictures
Alice
What is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?
Sister
Now Alice pay attention to the lesson or we shall have to go back inside to do your studies.
Alice
I try, but oh the sun is so bright and inviting, the river is making such a soothing sound. Look at all the beautiful flowers, and how sweet they smell, I would much rather gather daisies for a chain. Won’t you come with me and gather daisies? I promise to concentrate on lessons as I make the daisy chain…oh please please please do come with me…
Sister
(ignores Alice’s request and continues reading, as Alice nods off)
Ah, cruel Three! In such an hour,
Beneath such dreamy weather,
To beg a tale of breath too weak
To stir the tiniest feather!
Yet what can one poor voice avail
Against three tongues together?
Imperious Prima flashes forth
Her edict "to begin it"—
In gentler tones Secunda hopes
"There will be nonsense in it!"—
While Tertia interrupts the tale
Not more than once a minute.
Anon, to sudden silence won,
In fancy they pursue
The dream-child moving through a land
Of wonders wild and new,
In friendly chat with bird or beast—
And half believe it true.
Alice
(stirs awake, rustling sound heard, she watches the white rabbit sleepily,)
Rabbit
Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late! I’m late, I’m ever so late…..(looks at watch) Oh dear ! She will have my head off if I don’t hurry. I’m late!
Alice
(Starts upright, fully awake now) What in the world. Wait, what Well I never did see anything like that before. Wait, wait, Mr Rabbit please come back, oh where has he gone…
(looking around, Addresses audience begins walking toward elevator) -Did you see that rabbit? Where did he go? Come help me find where he went…oh my, he must have gone into this rabbit hole…. Mr. Rabbit, Mr Rabbit…..(improv?)
Scene 2 – Elevator, Rabbit hole
Alice
Eeek, I am falling but oh my so very slowly. , maybe I am actually falling up, as it doesn’t feel as if this tunnel will ever end. How curious, I wonder if I will land on my head if I am falling up, or is it that I am falling down and my body is upside down….no I certainly feel right side up so I must be falling up.
Why there is a cupboard and some marmalade, I wonder if there is time for tea…oh I guess not as there it goes by me.
Umph, well I did not land on my head, I landed on my feet, which is a good thing I suppose, I must have turned up side right , now were did that funny rabbit go, …….. Hello? Hello? Mr. Rabbit……?
(Enters an area with doors of various sizes,w/peepholes)
Alice
Why look at all these doors, which one did that strange rabbit go into? Oh, bother they are all locked, now what am I to do?
Which door shall I try? (to Audience) Will you help me figure out which door we should go through?
(she notices the bottle)….Drink Me!, It is all very well to say ‘drink me’ but I remember reading about many unpleasant things that happen to children who do not follow simple rules, such as a red hot poker will burn you if you touch it, and a sharp knife if cutting deeply into your finger will make it bleed --- and if youwere to drink from a bottle markedpoison it would disagree with you sooner or later, you can never be too careful about such things.
(uncorks it, sniffs), It smells like strawberry shortcake, I don’t see a label that says poison, only Drink Me (to Audience) shall I taste it? (sips) it takes divine,, oooh I do feel so odd though, as if I’m shutting up like a telescope. (peeps into one door)
(On the table she found very small cookies that said ‘eat me’.)
Shall I nibble a bit of this and see what happens? Curiouser and curiouser! I am now opening up like the largest telescope ever! Oh , oh oh, no I am grown too large, I will never fit through that door now,
I have grown so large know I cannot even see my feet, I will need to send them a telegram to ask how they are getting on, maybe send them new boots for Christmas. I would send them by carrier and how funny it’ll seem sending presents to one’s own feet:
(reads out the address)
Alice’s Right Foot ESQ.
Hearthrug
Near the fender
with Alice’s Love
(peeps into another door)
(Starts crying) oh I see a beautiful garden but how am I to get through this door, and there goes the White Rabbit splendidly dressed
(off stage you hear the rabbit)
Rabbit
Oh the Queen, the Queen OH! Won’t she be cross! Won’t she be savage if I’ve kept her waiting! I must find my gloves and fan, oh, oh, how clumsy of me to lose them! I’m late, the queen the queen she will be so cross. You know how she flies into a fury, I will surely lose my head.
Alice
Picking up a small gloves and fan, this must be what he is looking for. ( fanning herself) Dear dear oh dear me, how queer everything is today! And yesterday it all seemed so normal, things went on as usual. I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night: Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah that’s the great puzzle!
I must have changed I wonder if I’ve changed into Mabel, but I know much more than Mabel, let me see if I can remember something
How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin
How neatly spreads his claws
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!
Oh, no I am sure those are not the right words, I must be Mabel after all!
I’ve made up my mind if I’ve changed into Mabel I shall stay here, there is no use of them saying ‘come on home dear’ because I say “who am I then” and if I like who they say-- I’ll come home and if not I’ll stay until I am someone else….Oh dear (fresh crying) if I only wasn’t so large or if I could find a door that I could fit through, I could go into that lovely garden.
(looking around, notices the perfect door) oh my this fan must be making me smaller, I do believe I can go through that door right there!
(As she goes through the water feature into the main area) Oh I so wish I hadn’t cried so much there is water everywhere, and I am ever so damp.
Scene 3 – Caucus Race
Alice
( notices the group of assorted animals and audience) What a curious gathering. So how are we to get dry again? (takes suggestion from audience)
Dormouse
Now sit down all of you and listen to me! I’ll soon make you dry enough. Ahem! Are you ready? This is the driest thing I know. Silence all around if you please!
“William the Conqueror, whose cause was favored by the Pope, was soon submitted to by the English who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and Morcar, the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria ---“
Dodo
(Speaking to a group)– I move that the meeting adjourn for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies,
Dormouse?
Speak English I don’t know the meaning of half those long words and what’s more I don’t believe you do either! (crowd giggles)
Dodo
What I mean to say is the best thing to do now is a Caucus-race!
Alice
Good dear, what is a caucus-race?
Dodo
Why, the best way to explain it is to do it.
(Marks the course off, places audience around it, cast begins running around encouraging audience to join in or just stand there, cheering)
Dodo
The race is over!
Alice
But who has won?
Dodo
Everybody has won! And all must have prizes!
Crowd
But who will give the prizes?
Dodo
Pointing to Alice – Why, she of course!
Crowd
Prizes, prizes, prizes
Alice
Um well then, um…..(patting her pockets, pulls out a tin of sweets), yes, here are the prizes, one for each of you then.
Crowd
But what of her, she must have a prize as well you know!
Dodo
But of course….what else have you got in your pocket then?
Alice
Only this thimble
Dodo
Very well hand it over then…….We beg your acceptance of this elegant thimble.
Alice
(bowing, accepts the thimble trying not to laugh)
Dodo
She’s laughing, she doesn’t care for us
Alice
I beg your pardon?
Dodo
You are not attending!
Alice
I didn’t mean it! But you’re so easily offended you know!
(Alice stalks off in a huff, toward the caterpillar’s mushroom)
Scene 4 – Caterpillar
Alice
Hmmm what a large mushroom this is…
Caterpillar
Who are you?
Alice
Why, I hardly know sir, I mean I know who I was when I got up this morning, but it has been such a strange day I am not sure at the present moment who I am
Caterpillar
What do you mean? Explain yourself!
Alice
I can’t explain myself or anything that has happened today, I’m afraid sir. Because I am not myself you see.
Caterpillar
I don’t see…
Alice
I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly I can’t understand it myself today has been very confusing
Caterpillar
I isn’t really you know
Alice
Well, perhaps you haven’t found it so yet, but when you have to turn into a chrysalis ------you will someday you know---—and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you’ll feel it a little odd won’t you?
Caterpillar
Not a bit
Alice
Well perhaps your feelings may be different all I know is that it would feel odd to me
Caterpillar
You! Who are you?
Alice
Well now, I think you ought to tell me who you are first!
Caterpillar
Why?
( Alice stalks away) Come back! I’ve something important to say!
(Alice turns and slowly heads back arms crossed angrily) Keep your temper.
Alice
Is that all?
Caterpillar
No……..so you think you have changed do you?
Alice
I’m afraid I am sir. I can’t remember things as I used – and I don’t keep the same size for ten minutes together.
Caterpillar
Can’t remember what things?
Alice
Well, I’ve tried to say…”Father William” but it all comes out wrong
Caterpillar
Recite it for me then, and we will see
Alice
(folds her hands and recites)
"You are old, Father William," the young man said,
"And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head—
Do you think, at your age, it is right?"
"In my youth," Father William replied to his son,
"I feared it might injure the brain;
But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again."
Caterpillar
Hmmm , that is not said right.
Alice
Yes, not quite right, I’m afraid, some of the words have got altered
Caterpillar
It is wrong from beginning to end! (silence), Are you content now?
Alice
I would like to be a bit taller
Caterpillar
What size would you like to be?
Alice
Oh, I’m not particular as to size, only one doesn’t like to be changing so often you know.
Caterpillar
I don’t know.
Alice
Well I should like to be a little larger, sir if you wouldn’t mind three inches is such a wretched height to be.
Caterpillar
(Standing taller) It is a very good height indeed!
Alice
But I’m not used to it! I wish the creatures wouldn’t be so easily offended!
Caterpillar
You will get used to it in time
Alice
But how do I grow?
Caterpillar
(Yawning, and walking away speaking over his shoulder) One side makes you taller the other side makes you grow shorter
Alice
One side of What? The other side of What?
Caterpillar
Of the mushroom of course!
(Alice takes a piece of mushroom and inspects it, while walking away, pauses when she notices the cat and puts the mushroom in her pocket)
Scene 5 – Cheshire Cat
Alice
Come now, kitty. Come here. Here kitty kitty kitty. I don’t understand Dinah always comes when I call her, she purrs so and enjoys when I stroke head. Come now kitty don’t you want me to tickle you on the head?
Cheshire Cat
Why no, I don’t like people to touch my head.
Alice
Oh, you talk, of course, I had thought I imagined that Rabbit speaking but it appears all manner of animals can speak here. Hello sweet kitty, I am Alice.
(taking a good long look at the cat) Whydo you grin like that?
Cheshire Cat
Why I’m a Cheshire Cat!
Alice
I didn’t know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I didn’t know that cats COULD grin
Cheshire Cat
We all can, and most of us do!
Alice
I don’t know of any that do, and certainly never saw Dinah, my sweet cat, grin such as you do.
Cheshire Cat
You don’t know much and that’s a fact
(Cat fades into back ground)
Alice
Cheshire cat…(Cat reappears, Alice speaks to herself) come now he seems pleased so far,
(To Cat) would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?
Cheshire Cat
That depends a good deal on where you want to get to
Alice
I don’t care much where….
Cat
Then it doesn’t matter which way you go
Alice
….so long as I get somewhere
Cat
Oh you’re sure to do that if you only walk long enough
Alice
What sort of people live about here?
Cat
In that direction lives a Hatter, and in that direction, lives a March Hare. Visit either you like; they’re both mad
Alice
But I don’t want to go among mad people
Cat
Oh, you can’t help that, we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.
Alice
How do you know I’m mad
Cat
You must be or you wouldn’t have come here
Alice
How do you know that you’re mad?
Cat
To begin with a dog’s not mad. You grant that?
Alice
I suppose so….
Cat
Well, then you see, a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it’s pleased. Now I growl when I’m pleased, and wag my tail when I’m angry. Therefore I’m mad.
Alice
I call it purring, not growling
Cat
Call it what you like. Do you play croquet?...... Will you play at the Queen’s today?
Alice
I should like it very much, but I haven’t been invited yet
Cat
You’ll see me there….(cat fades away pops back in)….Did you eat a pig?
Alice
No
Cat
I thought you did (fades again)
Alice
(begins walking to the March Hare’s)….I’ve seen hatters before,the March Hare will be much more interesting and perhaps as this is June it won’t be raving mad—at least not so mad as it was in March…
Cat
(appears again) Did you say pig or fig?
Alice
Pig or fig I had neither, I wish you wouldn’t keep appearing and vanishing so suddenly you make one quite giddy
Cat
Alight (and this time he vanishes slowly from the tail with only his grin remaining for a moment)
Alice
Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin, but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in my life!
(Continues walking, til she comes upon the March Hare’s house)
Suppose it should be raving mad after all! I almost wish I’d gone to see the Hatter instead!
Scene 6 – Tea Party
Hatter
No room! No room!
Hare
No room! No room!
Dormouse
(starts awake) No room!.....no room.. no….(drifts off to sleep again)
Alice
Why there is plenty of room! The table is laid for a great many more than you three!
Hare