Transcription
wonder.land Learning GuideAbout This Guide .1Background Information .2Teaching Information .4Production NotesContextual Information .5Key Design Elements .5Performance Style .11Key Moments .12Plot Synopsis .13Find Out More .231
wonder.land Learning GuideAboutThis learning guide supports the productionof wonder.land, created by Damon Albarn,Moira Buffini and directed by Rufus Norris.wonder.land opened at the Palace Theatrein Manchester on 2nd July 2015, beforetransferring to the National’s Olivier Theatrein London in December.Our packs are designed to support viewingthe recording on the National TheatreCollection. This pack provides links to UKschool curriculum and other productions inthe Collection. It also has a plot synopsiswith timecodes to allow you to jump to aparticular section of the play.Here you’ll also find all the information youneed to enable you to study the productionand write about it in detail. This includesnotes about all of the key elements fromperformance style to design. You’ll also findpointers for further research.1
wonder.land Learning GuideBackground InformationRecording Date – 9th December, 2015Location – Olivier Theatre, National TheatreAge Recommendation – 12 (infrequent strong language)CastMC (Cheshire Cat / Caterpillar).Hal FowlerAly .Lois ChimimbaBianca . Golda RosheuvelMatt .Paul HiltonDinah . Witney WhiteKitty . Abigail RoseMary Ann. Stephanie RojasAlice . Carly BowdenWhite Rabbit . Joshua LaceyMs Manxome .Francolini AnnaLuke Laprel . Enyi OkoronkwoMr King .Andrian GroveDum . Sam ArcherDee . Leone CookeMouse .Ed WadeHumpty .Daisy MaywoodDodo .Ivan De FreitasMock Turtle .Cyndey Uffindell-PhillipsWPC Rook . Nadine CoxEnsemble .Simon AnthonyEnsemble .Dylan MasonEnsemble . Lisa Ritchie2
wonder.land Learning GuideBackground InformationRecording Date – 9th December, 2015Location – Olivier Theatre, National TheatreAge Recommendation – 12 (infrequent strong language)MusicMusic Director / Piano / Keyboard 1.Tom DeeringPiano / Keyboard 2 .Ian WatsonViolin / Acoustic Guitar /Ukulele / Banjo .Sarah FreestonePercussion / Kit .Tony McVeyElectric Bass . Timothy HarriesElectric Guitar . Simon TongFlute / Piccolo / Alto Saxophone /Bass Flute. Stephanie RojasClarinet / Bass Clarinet /Soprano,Baritone & Tenor Saxophones . Carly BowdenCreativesDirector . Rufus NorrisWriter .Moira BuffiniMusic . Damon AlbarnSet Designer .Rae SmithLighting Designer . Paula ConstableSound Designer . Paul ArdittiCostume Designer .Katrina LindsayChoreographer .Javier de FrutosPuppet Design 'Charlie' .Toby Olié3
wonder.land Learning GuideTeaching InformationThis production is particularly suitable for: Anyone with an interest in the adaptation of novels for the stage. Anyone with an interest in musical theatre. Drama and theatre students studying Rufus Norris (director) as acontemporary theatre practitioner. Drama and theatre students studying Rae Smith (set designer) asa contemporary theatre practitioner. Production Arts students who are interested in lighting, soundand video design.In particular you might like to explore: How the set, costume, lighting, sound and video design cometogether to create the two different worlds (reality and the gameworld) in the production. The adaptation of Alice in Wonderland and why the creative teamchose to turn Lewis Carroll’s original story into a contemporarymusical. The parallel characters of Aly and her avatar Alice and how theyrelate to the character of Alice in Lewis Carroll’s original novel. The questions that the production raises about online identities,the world of the internet and social media.4
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction NotesContextual Information The story of Alice in Wonderland has been adapted countless times. This is avery modern version which updates the idea of ‘escape’ into computer games. The issue of cyber bullying with Dinah and her friends is one of the elementsthat updates this story into the twenty first century.The following notes have been compiled to help guide you through the significantdesign and performance aspects as you watch the production, or to remind you ofthem after you have watched it. You may also want to make your own notes andform your own opinions on the effectiveness of these aspects as you explore theproduction.Key Design Elements: Set Considerable use of the cyclorama for projections. Very stylised, non-naturalistic set using the full stage. A number of differenttrucks are used to ensure transitions are quick so that the pace and energy of theproduction is not lost. Aly’s real world is grey, black and white. It provides a sense of drudgery,monotony and lack of excitement. In strong contrast, the Alice onlineenvironment uses neon colours, shimmering fabrics and bright lights to create asense of excitement and magic, and link to the online world that inspires it. Wall trucks are used to create the class room walls. Automation is used to bring on items of set such as tables and chairs (for the teascene), the MC’s arm chair and the skyscraper at the opening of the show.5
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction Notes Other items of set are moved by the ensemble. By using the cast, the scenechanges are fast-paced and seamless, meaning the audience can continue tosuspend their disbelief (this is not interrupted by long blackouts etc). Wall trucks also provide a variety of surfaces on which to project. Aly’s bedroom is signified by a bed frame, on which is a mattress and pillows.The bedclothes have elements of bright colours on – the duvet cover has a printmade of large pink buttons.Key Design Elements: Costume Katrina Lindsay’s costume designs take current fashions into account. Alice wears a blue dress over a white blouse which is suggestive of the imageof Alice we are used to from the Disney animation. However, the fabric is asilky, shimmering blue, and her shoes (which look like heeled Mary Janeshoes, again like the Disney cartoon) are similar to those designed by couturefashion designers. Alice’s skirt is tutu shaped with ruffle pants underneath,and the ‘petticoat’ underneath Alice’s skirt is formed of diamonds, rather likethe pleats from a Chinese lantern. Alice wears a red dress in Act Two – thesame shape and details as the blue one worn in Act One.6
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction Notes Ms Manxome’s suit is a houndstooth check, with a matching bow around herneck and a red dress underneath. The shapes of many of the costumes involve sharp points, for example collarsand shoulders, whilst others are much rounder in shape creating circularimages with the use of mutton leg sleeves. The White Rabbit wears a white long-sleeved leotard, white tights and whitepantaloons – the lines of his costume tend to be curved, in contrast to thesharp angles of Ms Manxome’s costume. The mask and headpiece that theWhite Rabbit wears includes two ‘ears’ made of white material similar in shapeto long balloons The Caterpillar wears a full body suit of green and silver (hints of metalliccolour, similar to tinsel). Members of the ensemble wear globe-shaped bodysuits which cover from neck to mid-thigh, in the same material. They are wideenough that only their hands emerge from the side of their bodies (we cannotsee the rest of their arms). When they line up behind each other, the effect isthe creation of the caterpillar’s long body. The Caterpillar’s headpiece includesantennae and eyes that light up in a bright white colour. The headpiece allowsus to the see the actors face, which is made pale with makeup. The ensemble wear highly stylised costumes, often in greys and blacks, withunusual and quirky accessories which include miniature top hats (fascinatorstyle), a large shower cap, cloche hats, bobble hats, jackets with upturnedcollars and at one point, a bus stop is signified by an actor wearing a bowlerhat with a ‘bus stop’ sign protruding from it.7
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction Notes School uniforms are black fabric (blazer, tie and skirt) but with exaggeratedwhite lines to create trims, hems and ties. The costumes aid the idea that the real life of Aly is very different to thatcreated online with Alice. As this is a retelling of the story of Alice inWonderland, the designs retain some elements that the audience willrecognise, but there are often humorous additions or alterations to thetraditional image. For example, the Dodo is very muscular in a padded bodysuit, resembling that of a superhero costume.Key Design Elements: Lighting Neon lights are used as trim on the wall trucks. Notice that the computer games animations are projected they are in brightcolours including purple, blue and yellow. The audience are, at times, unsettledwith the swift changes from the bright lights to the grey images often createddownstage. Harsh white light is used to create the mundane, unwelcoming reality of Aly'slife. The cyclorama often shows projections of pylons and high rise buildings, inblack/white/grey hues and so the lighting must be bright enough to illuminate8
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction Notes the actors. The downstage area of the stage tends to be lit more brightly,particularly in the scenes in the classroom, toilets and tea party. Note the use of strobe lights and chase sequences to create tension and alsothe flickering effect used in computer games.Key Design Elements: Sound Live music from the band which includes electric and acoustic guitar, bass,drums, flute, piccolo, saxophone, piano, keyboard etc. There are also sound effects which mimic the music from computer games,which includes beeps, higher pitched, repetitive tunes. Other sound effects include a school bell, beeps and even a kazoo! Ascomputer games and online apps/platforms use various sound effects, thisproduction uses these same noises to bring the online world to life. Echoesand amplification with the use of microphone. Songs include solos, duets and chorus numbers. When watching the production note that there is often instrumentalunderscoring to create mood and atmosphere and also, in the case of thecomputer world, maintain pace and tension – like working through the levelsof a game.9
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction NotesKey Design Elements: Wigs, Hair and Make-up Wigs are a key element of this production, and complement the shape andstyle of the character’s overall costume. Look carefully at Dee and Dum’s wigs which are like dark skull caps with bowlcuts at an angle! The roundness of the hair style mimics the curves in theircostume and makes them seem slightly comedic. Many of the characters in Aly's world have pale faces to make them look dulland washed out. Alice has kohl eyeliner slightly under eyes – it makes her look less ‘innocent’and more in keeping with computer game avatars (a little bit like war paint). Alice’s hair, rather than being a natural blonde colour, is a very bright white(platinum) blonde, again highly stylised. Ms Manxome’s wig is an excellent example of a highly stylised version of aregular hairstyle - a wig that makes her head look bigger, with a sharp cutbob. She has white strands of hair through the front of the wig – notice howthe effect integrates which the black and white nature of the rest of hercostume and also the set.10
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction Notes In contrast to the bright and quirky wigs and make-up of the computer worldcharacters, note characters such as the maths teacher who wears glasses andhas very greased down, side parted hair – the stereotypical ‘nerdy’ teacher. Look carefully at which characters have ‘softer’ shaped hair (rounded/curvedshapes) contrasted to those who have large headpieces/wigs that are veryangular.Key Design Elements: Puppetry Baby Charlie is thirteen months old and is a fairly life like puppet, worn in a babycarrying sling by Aly's mother. At the end of the show, Charlie ‘vomits’ glitter –there are repeated references to how much he vomits throughout theproduction! Charlie is hand operated and is manipulated by the actor carryinghim.Performance Style There is a particularly lively and energetic performance style in this production. Inaddition, songs frequently support or further the action. Even the more ‘realistic’scenes, for example those between Aly and her mum, are exaggerated orprojected slightly to maintain pace. wonder.land is a fast moving story and so theaudience must not get bored or distracted at any time. Dee and Dum, the White Rabbit and Alice all use choreographed and stylisedmovement to create character. Alice, when suspended on wires, begins as slightlyrobotic as Aly creates her as her avatar. Her movements are jerky and staccato.However, as the show progresses, and particularly when Alice wears flatter shoesin Act Two, her movement becomes a little more natural. Dee and Dum useballetic leaps and turns, and rhythmical tap steps, either in unison or canon, tocreate the impression that they are twins. Choral work is important in creating additional characters (such as in classroomand street scenes). Note the way in which the actors acknowledge and interest with the projections -itis used to create the screen on which Aly is playing computer games, as well asrepresenting her phone screen when she sends texts messages.11
wonder.land Learning GuideProduction NotesKey MomentsYou might like to consider these key moments in particular when you are studyingthe production. Look closely at how the MC engages and sustains the audience’s attentionfrom the very beginning of the production. It is a familiar story which hasbeen made very modern and so the audience’s attention needs to begrabbed from the very start! This opening is also a very good demonstrationof how theatrical automation can be used to great effect. Explore the way in which the actress playing Alice is suspended on wiresand starts to come to life (from 15 mins 30 seconds). The interaction between Alice and the White Rabbit, including movementand lighting/projection: this is an excellent example of how performance anddesign elements are all integrated. Ensemble work and the way in which it exploits/utilises costume isdemonstrated very clearly in the Caterpillar scene (41 minutes 10 secondsonwards). This also provides an opportunity to discuss multi-roling as theMC is played by the same actor who plays the Cheshire Cat and theCaterpillar which all require different movement and vocal skills. Look at the opening of Act Two (from 1 hour 7 minutes) where a computergame sequence opens the second half of the play. Note how the music andimages engage our attention once again, after the climactic finish of the firsthalf, and prepare us for what is to come.12
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot SynopsisAct OnePrologueThe MC welcomes the audience, showing his mobile phone and inviting everyone toenter a ‘digital black portal / To boundless lands.’Looking-Glass World (0:01:55)Aly Hatton is playing a game on her phone when her mother, Bianca, enters andinsists that Aly get off her phone and out of the house. Aly gives in and agrees to goto the supermarket with her mother and baby brother, Charlie. Aly sings ‘Who’sruining my life?’, the chorus respond: ‘Your Mum.’(0:05:10) At the supermarket, Aly bumps into her father, Matt, who no longer liveswith the family due to financial problems. In extremely high spirits, Matt pushes hisdaughter around in a trolley. Aly asks Matt whether she can come and live with himas Bianca enters. She sings ‘Who’s ruining your life?’ and answers her own questionwith ‘Your dad’ – the chorus takes up this new refrain. Bianca and Matt have anargument before baby Charlie throws up on the floor. Matt tries to offer to helpBianca but she refuses to accept.13
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot Synopsis(0:07:24) Back in her room, in answer to the question, ‘Who’s ruining your life?’ afrustrated Aly says ‘The whole bloody lot of you!’Down the Rabbit Hole (0:07:46)Aly picks up her phone and sends out a message online saying she’d like to talk tosomeone. Bianca comes to the door and tells Aly she’s always here, and that theycan talk. Aly says no, she’s probably going to go to bed, but returns to talkingonline. Aly types that she is finding it hard to be in a new flat, in a new part of townand new at school. Dinah, Kitty and Mary Ann all come online and start to tease Aly.Dinah and Mary Ann ponder whether she might have ‘fat attitude’ and Kitty posts apicture altered to show Aly as obese. The three girls then begin gossiping aboutAly’s dad, saying the family split because of the money he lost through onlinegambling and they call him ‘The Mad Hat Man’. Aly types ‘Shut up, you slags’ andthe girls respond angrily, telling her to get a life and ‘Be someone else.’(0:11:53) When Aly types this last phrase into a search engine, the wonder.land logoappears, along with the MC. She’s prompted to enter a username, which she does:AlyPally32. During the song ‘WWW’ Aly creates her avatar, a tall, thin, blonde whomshe calls Alice. At the end of the song, Alice becomes 3D and Aly agrees to thesite’s only term and condition: ‘Extreme malice will result in your deletion.’ There issome confusion when Aly and Alice speak to each other about who is who. The pairimmediately make each other laugh and have fun together.14
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot Synopsis(0:16:30) During the song ‘Fabulous’, Aly is delighted to discover the possibilities ofher avatar – she makes Alice walk, run, dance, sing and fight. When asked whethershe would like to quest or play, Alice clicks on ‘quest’ and a White Rabbit appears.Aly commands Alice to follow the White Rabbit, which she does, falling down therabbit hole after him. Alice and Aly sing ‘Falling’ with the refrain ‘Nothing inwonder.land that you can’t do.’The Manxome Foe (0:20:40)Bianca hurries to get Aly up for school, worried that they will both be late, and asksher to do some household chores. It is clear Aly is not really listening but isengrossed on her phone. The White Rabbit vies for her attention in the background.Bianca tells her is not to play on her phone at school.(0:22:00) Aly is still following the White Rabbit on her phone with Alice when MsManxome, the head teacher, catches her and confiscates the phone. The teacherlaunches into the song ‘I’m Right’, telling her assembled pupils that she is never,ever wrong, and that phones are banned. Luke Laprel walks into the assembly late.With help from Mr King and his boombox, Ms Manxome explains to the children herstrategy for improving the school, which involves a ban on phones. Once she isalone, Ms Manxome admits to feeling lonely sometimes, but she knows that this isher duty.(0:26:09) Aly walks into Ms Manxome’s office and finds her chopping the heads offflowers with her guillotine. Before Ms Manxome gives Aly back her phone, she tellsher they share the name Alice and that it means ‘noble, of the nobility’. She warns:‘if I find you with this phone again it’s a beheading – I mean a detention.’The Pool of Tears (0:27:27)Dinah, Mary Ann and Kitty surround Aly, and tell her they feel they were a bit mean,and that they want to be friends with her. However this was all a show and theyimmediately turn on her again. Luke arrives late to Mr King’s lesson and doesn’tknow the answers. The three bullies are whispering ‘Big / Fat / Bitch’ at Aly, whoresponds by retreating into wonder.land and making Alice cry, telling her, ‘Cry awhole pool of tears and then throw yourself in.’(0:29:53) Dum and Dee appear in wonder.land, squabbling over the game. Theirargument descends into the song ‘Freaks’ in which they insult each other back andforth. Aly has Alice say hello to them and suggest they be nicer. They insult Alice,15
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot Synopsiscalling her ‘fugly as a boot’ but she perseveres, and Aly tells her to stand up forherself. She fights them and so they warn her, ‘Stop or we’ll cry,’ which they do,defusing the situation.(0:32:26) Other avatars approach, including Mosue, Humpty, Dodo and Mock Turtle.They chat about the mysterious purpose of the game’s quest, speculate about whateach other’s real identities might be and reveal the difficulties they experienced inthe real world that drove them to this virtual world. In the song ‘Crap Life’ they telleach other more about their real selves: Humpty has an abusive stepfather, Dodoworries he might be ‘twisted’ in the head because he wears girls’ clothes, MockTurtle is called Pizza Face at school, Mouse is very small and girls find him boring,while Dum and Dee have panic attacks.(0:39:05) Aly becomes so involved in this virtual scene that she forgets where she isin the real world and stands up in maths class. Her classmates mock her and MrKing asks her to answer the question on the board, which she cannot. The threebullies surround her again, ordering her to say sorry so that they will be ‘friends’ withher. Aly runs away, which Alice runs after the White Rabbit in wonder.land.16
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot SynopsisAdvice from a Caterpillar (0:40:36)Aly enters the girls’ toilets to hide. The Caterpillar appears and asks Alice in song,‘Who Are You?’ When the three bullies come into the bathroom, they find Aly talkinginto her phone and tease her that this is a sign of the madness that runs in herfamily. Aly tells them to ‘F-off’ and mind their own business, but Dinah warns her, ‘Ifyou ever come on my wall again, I’ll post that you do sex acts,’ before the threeleave together.(0:47:10) Aly takes her phone out again. Alice is still singing ‘Who are you?’, towhich Aly responds ‘Alice, you don’t want to know.’ When Alice persists, Aly singsthe song ‘Secrets’ which is about the things she cannot say. Aly finally reveals toAlice some of her secrets – one is that she told her mum that her dad had run out ofmoney, despite him asking her not to. The other is that ‘I totally utterly hate / Beingme.’(0:52:35) The White Rabbit appears again, and Alice is flirtatious. Aly isembarrassed, perhaps because he’s ‘cute.’ She tells Alice to follow the White Rabbitwhen he exits.(0:53:28) Luke comes into the girls’toilets,saying he needs to hide, which he doesin a cubicle. Kieran comes in looking for him. Aly tells Kieran she hasn’t seen Luke.When he won’t leave, she starts filming him on her phone and calls him a pervert,17
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot Synopsisthreatening to put the video online if he doesn’t leave. Kieran backs off and leaves,so that Luke can now emerge safely from the cubicle. ‘Are you gay?’ Aly asks him.‘Are you fat?’ he responds. They agree not to go back to class, playingcompanionably on their phones together instead. Luke asks Aly aboutwonder.land. He is surprised by her avatar: ‘She’s white.’ . ‘Why shouldn’t she bewhite?’. ‘Strange though. People usually make avatars who are cooler than theyare. You are definitely cooler than her,’ Luke tells Aly, and the pair forge afriendship.(0:55:46) Ms Manxome storms into the toilets, horrified to find Aly and Luke inthere during lessons. She gives them detention and confiscates Aly’s phone. Fromthe phone, Alice calls to Aly: ‘Alice?’, but Ms Manxome thinks she means herbecause they share the name. Ms Manxome is drawn into conversation with Alicewho tells her that she knows she’s lonely, will keep her secrets and that she lovesher. Intrigued, Ms Manxome agrees to play in this virtual garden where there are‘no rules.’A Mad Tea Party (0:59:05)As Aly and Luke leave school together, Aly is still devastated by the loss of herphone. She tells him about wonder.land and her quest, while he tells her about hisgame: Zombie Swarm. They meet Aly’s dad Matt at the school gate who invitesthem out to celebrate the fact that he threw away his phone and is now technologyfree. The two accept, both agreeing that they will skip detention. Matt teases Alyand Luke about whether there is a romantic element to their friendship, but Luketells him flatly that there isn’t because he is gay. An increasingly excitable Mattsays ‘You know who you are and that’s a great thing.’(1:03:10) Matt sings ‘Chances’ about life, luck and gambling. Aly is worried abouther dad’s euphoric mood and embarrassed that other customers are looking atthem, but Matt continues singing, playing the spoons and dancing on the tables.The waiters are concerned at Matt’s behaviour, and it culminates in a scufflebetween a waiter and Matt. Bianca walks in carrying Charlie and is horrified at thescene that meets her eyes. The family have another argument where Biancacriticises Matt for taking Aly out without letting her know. The police arrive, andeven more chaos ensues as Matt is arrested. MC enters in a giant teapot and endsthe Act: ‘Fabulous.’Interval18
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot SynopsisAct TwoThe Garden of Live Flowers (1:07:16)Ms Manxome sings ‘Me’ about the euphoria she feels now that she has Alice. Shebuys her red accessories, and is delighted at no longer being alone.(1:12:06) At the police stations, WPC Rook is trying to get Matt to give herinformation about the incident at the tea shop. Matt and Bianca are having a heatedargument, ignoring WPC Rook. They argue in song, with Matt calling Biancaheartless, and she in turn calling him useless. Aly, who has been listening in distressnow intervenes: ‘Sooner or later / You’ll begin to see / That I am only holding on to /Shreds of a family’ and her parents finally calm down.(1:15:28) In her office, Ms Manxome is watching Alice running around thewonder.land garden as they sing ‘Me’ together. When the avatars come upon Aliceand join in the song, singing ‘It’s me / Me’, Ms Manxome is upset and uncertain,believing they’re stealing her song. They can tell that Alice is different from the lasttime they met her. Ms Manxome rejects them, saying she has no time for friends.She instructs Alice to kick Mouse, and commands them all to leave ‘her’ garden.But they band together and drive Alice (and Ms Manxome) away. The other avatarsare sad that Alice is being weird as they liked her before.19
wonder.land Learning GuidePlot SynopsisThe White Queen (1:20:06)Bianca is outraged that Aly missed a detention, was playing on her phone in thetoilets and has now had her phone confiscated till the end of term. Aly finallyconfides that she’s being bullied. Bianca wants to go into school and speak to Aly’shead teacher about the bullying but Aly refuses. Bianca blames Aly’s feelings on herphone and bans her from using it except for homework. Charlie vomits all over Alywho sings the song ‘Everyone loves Charlie’ about how everyone seems to love herlittle brother more than her.The Red Queen (1:27:28)When Aly tries to access her Alice avatar from an internet café, she is puzzled whenshe is told this is not possible because the avatar is already ‘in use.’ Meanwhile MsManxome buys a sword for Alice. While Aly can now hear everyone in wonder.land,they cannot hear her. She is baffled by what is going on there – Ms Manxome tellsAlice to ready her sword to attack the other avatars. Alice is initially reluctantbecause the avatars are her friends, but she turns on them at Ms Manxome’surging. It dawns on Aly that the person controlling Alice, who calls herself ‘The RedQueen’ must be Ms Manxome. Humpty rallies them, and the other avatars uniteagainst Alice as she deals each of them a cutting insult in turn. The MC warns of heraccount being deleted due to extreme malice.(1:32:32) In the internet café, Aly is extrem
fashion designers. Alice's skirt is tutu shaped with ruffle pants underneath, and the 'petticoat' underneath Alice's skirt is formed of diamonds, rather like the pleats from a Chinese lantern. Alice wears a red dress in Act Two - the same shape and details as the blue one worn in Act One. wonder.land Learning Guide Production Notes
