So, I've been trying to expand my knowledge of Dublin culture as well as Dublin theatre, as you may well know, and this means going to all stages of theatre here in Dublin.
Today, that meant going to see the revival of the Ireland adapted musical Alice in Funderland at the Abbey theatre....for the second time.
NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE. I know what you're thinking. "Are you mental? Going to see a show that you have to pay 15€ for twice? In two weeks? What with all the material flying around Dublin-like. Me own da wouldn't have even given me the funds fer tha..."
Sorry, I think I fell into a proverbial perceived Irish audience rabbit hole there for a minute. Let me explain.
So, the first time I saw this show, last friday, I went with my buddies Ryan and Jani from UNC. I noticed that previews were only running at 13€ for the night, whereas if we waited for the actual production, it would augment up to 15€. I was really saving us all money AND we would get to see the very first show at the Abbey. It was just a good idea all around. So we went.
The first thing you want to hear in a show does not go something like this.
"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, but we only finished up the last tech run 2 hours ago, so there might be a few errors with this performance, however have a cocktail on me.."
And the first person you want to see saying that first thing you don't want to hear is the artistic director...but I digress. I'll hit the plot points.
The play followed the general premise of Alice in Wonderland, with Alice (frequently referred to as Mary Anne by the Dublin 8 Warren character subbing in for the white rabbit) making a trip from Cork to Dublin to find a guy who dropped off raspberry-flavored glacier spring water for her sister's impending wedding. It turns into a chase to find her "lost love" Warren and a bunch of hijinx about the Cork-Dublin rivalry with pokes at the common North/South dubliner's expense. With her finding her way to "the castle" (actually a shady nightclub on the south side) to confront "the queen dolores" (actually a sexually ambiguous tyrant looking to exploit her daughter for money (think Hairspray minus the fat-suit)).
The play is incredibly meta-theatrical, where the audience is frequently referenced throughout the show, as well as mentions of lines like "I hope the audience isn't bored/understands this/will think the next act is great," yet still struck home with some poignant themes on love and loss.
The premise of Alice's chasing Warren revolves around the loss of her ex-boyfriend, who apparently died choking on a peanut. (Loss)
Alice in one scene prevents a character from roller-skating off the edge of the roof due to his recent break-up with his boyfriend ("The text just said that there was no we in madonna").
Alice is eventually thrown in the jail where she meets "the sisters" who have succumbed to the fact that dreams are merely that, and you have to stand on your own two feet to survive.
All these concepts of loss mix with a emphasis on flamboyancy, almost defiant anti-heterosexuality, and life in a world where God does not hold all the cards ( "And that God guy, he's just not there, so go on, get off your knees"). For a musical based on being lost, they really hit the nail on the head. Alice's love proves unrequited, and the show only ends with her being happy about what she does have.
It's not carpe-diem, it's only faire-en-raison.
For it being a farcical production, I think it definitely had legitimate moments that gave me chills. I couldn't classify it. I couldn't put it in a box to make things easier. This is either the tragi-comedy I've come so used to seeing in Irish Drama or a musical designed to attack the status quo.
Regardless of how prepared they were the first time I saw it, I think they really got their wits about them for the second production. I'm happy I got the invitation to see it from my friend Katy, because I had a much better interpretation the second time. The universal sense of bereavement really stuck out along with the fact that you're just going to have to stand on your own two feet. It's a good kick in the pants to make you embrace the world you have around you. Or at least to make do with it.
PS:
Celebration time. We hit 2000 views with the last post. Thanks for being a wonderful listening audience! Love you guys.
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