October 26, 2012

Janessa Touchet as Alice, Photography: Peter Mueller

Inspired by the stories of Lewis Carroll, the Cincinnati Ballet takes to the Music Hall stage this weekend in its regional premiere of Alice (in wonderland). The costumes are elaborately delicious, the score is original, and the story, well, it’s a little crazy. But hey, that’s the point. Take a trip down the rabbit hole and discover a fantastical dream world you never knew existed.

To prepare for this magical – somewhat trippy – experience, iSPYCINCY sat down with Alice at the Coffee Emporium last week. In an imagined conversation, we talked life, tea parties, and parental control.

Here’s an excerpt from our highly nonsensical chat:

iSPY: By the banks of the Ohio, what’s the craziest dream you’ve ever had?

Alice: Oh boy, where do I begin… Let’s just say don’t fall asleep by the river when you’ve got a lot on your mind. So anyway, this crazy dream I had happened two years ago. It involved a strange land, a tea party, and the Queen of Hearts.

I give her a half-intrigued, half-confused look.

Alice continues: Like I said, weird. (I know.)

Gerber Daises; Photography: Peter Mueller

iSPY: So in your dream you kept shrinking and then enlarging? What was the shrinking like? Did it remind you of Honey I shrunk the kids? 

Alice: Totally, except no Rick Moranis or pretending like blades of grass are huge slides. Every time I thought I got used to my new body size, I’d change again. Talk about being uncomfortable in your own skin.

iSPY: If you had to host your own tea party on repeat, what three tea flavors would you serve and why? 

Alice: That’s easy. I’d serve chamomile because it’s a classic; red raspberry zinger because – come on – who doesn’t like the word “zinger” in a name; and peppermint because it reminds me of the holidays.

iSPY: I hear your mom really chastises you about proper etiquette and attire, how do you handle that?

Alice: It’s true. If it’s not “Alice, aren’t you going to brush your hair?” Then, it’s “You really should stand up straight.” I’m reminded on a daily basis it’s “yes” not “yeah” or that I need to learn how to set a table properly if I ever want to meet the right man. My mom even tried to get me to take one of Mrs. Mannerly’s etiquette classes, but I flat out refused. The crazy thing is, I dreamt my mom was a Queen of Hearts. Let Mr. Freud chew on that.

Creative/Art Direction: Design Army; Photography: Dean Alexander; The Washington Ballet: Emily Ellis

iSPY: Any other crazy characters in you dream?

Alice: Yea — umm, I mean yes there was. I dreamt about a jabberwocky - you know – like a mutant dragon bird evil creature type of thing.

iSPY: Somehow I don’t think that’s the same as the Jabbawockeez, as in the season one winners of America’s Best Dance Crew.

Alice: (Hehe.) No, it’s not the same, but I do love those guys.

Alright, because I don’t want to give away too much insight into Alice’s creative lil’ head, I’ll leave it at that. (And I thought my dreams were weird.)

Maizyalet Velázquez as the Caterpillar, Photography: Peter Mueller

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Alice (in wonderland) had its world premiere last April in Washington DC, brought to us by the revolutionary vision of Septime Webre. The production features intricate costumes by Liz Vandal and a score commissioned by Matthew Pierce. You only have four chances to see the Cincinnati Ballet bring this fantasy to life, so don’t miss out!

*For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the website: http://www.cballet.org/

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