November 17, 2019

Alice in Wonderland the Pantomime

It's the Pantomime whirl season again! This year Alice in Wonderland gets Circa theatre's homegrown twist.

Alice (and panto dame Majorie Banks Street not to be confused with "Marsh banks") follows the white rabbit through the Justin Lester memorial tunnel on Mount Victoria into Wonderland. It's the sort of place where Wellington is turned on it's head and what Simon Bridges thinks of the beautiful Jacinda Ardern is what she's actually like.

And that's just the start of the political jokes. As a voting adult I felt pretty inadequate that I didn't get all the allusions. (Though I did spot Winston early on in the piece.) These, as well as references to Ru Paul's Drag Race, the orange skinned leader of the free world, walls and classic New Zealand music will sail over the head of your children. But they'll enjoy every minute of it.

There's all the classic panto elements. We're lucky enough to have two panto dames (because all the roles go to men); the traditional poor widow woman ("oh" ...though her husband, Kent Terrace, is only dead to her) and the cackling Queen of Hearts. Many "dun-dun-dun's" but no hisses for the bad guys, plenty of "he's behind you" and a lovely part where the children get to participate on stage (with photos! #circatheatre).

Even better than last years the whole family will love this pantomime.


Performances: 16 November - 22 December (times vary)
Tickets: $18 (child), $52 (adult)