The Story of Alice

Reviewed by Deborah Klugman
The Matrix Theatre
Through May 29

The Story of Alice, a musical show with book and lyrics by Michael Cormier and music by Michael Hiltzik, is suitable for young children. If you’re looking for grownup entertainment, this is not for you.

Like the fictional Alice of Lewis Carroll fame, this updated Alice (Jessamyn Arnstein) is a disgruntled little girl. After bickering with her 17-year-old sister (Emily Barnett), she follows a white rabbit (Justin W. Yu) down a hole, where she encounters a host of loony characters, some bearing the same or similar names to the creatures in the classic: the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire cat, the Mock Turtle, Tweedle Dee and Dum and so on.

Cormier’s random plotting gleans sparse threads from the original story; there’s a scene involving the baby of the Duchess who turns out to be a pig, and an extended riff about the Queen’s hunt for the knave for stealing tarts (In this version he and a feminine Mock Turtle are an item). But many of the most identifiable elements of the original are missing — which wouldn’t matter except they are replaced with slapdash plotlines that lack intelligent adult humor. Alice, for example, has a Prince Charming that shows up to romance her now and again, which is meant to be clever, I guess, but isn’t.

The saving grace in terms of comedy is Emily King Brown’s outrageous turn as the domineering Queen, a particular triumph of professional skill given the vapidity of her lines. Brown also gets to sing the show’s best number, “Off With their Heads.” The work of several other performers, including Barnett and Wu, suggests they might make more of an impression with better material.

You won’t be whistling any of Hiltzik’s melodies out the door, or humming any of Cormier’s lyrics — like the plot, a mishmash (“Bananas and Cabbage” is the title of one forgettable reprise.) Some of the group vocals sound OK, but Arnstein, who gets the sappy ballads, has trouble carrying a tune.

The decent choreography is by Cassie Crump while Yee Eun Nam designed serviceable projections not up to her usual creative standard. Mylette Nora’s costumes and the complementary makeup are the star of the show.

The Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m; Sun., 3 p.m.; through May 29. Plays411.net. Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.