Wonder.land

Wonder.land
Music Damon Albarn
Lyrics Moira Buffini
Book Moira Buffini
Basis Alice in Wonderland' and "Through the Looking-Glass' by Lewis Carroll
Premiere

2 July 2015 (2015-07-02): Palace Theatre, Manchester

National Theatre, London
Productions

Palace Theatre, Manchester (World Premiere version)

National Theatre, London

Wonder.land is a musical with music by Damon Albarn and lyrics and book by Moira Buffini. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's novels Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, the musical made its world premiere at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, in July 2015 as part of the Manchester International Festival. The musical transferred to London's National theatre from November 2015, before opening at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, in 2016.

Background

The musical is inspired by the novels Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, written by Lewis Carroll.[1] On 21 January 2015, the musical was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would premiere in July 2015, as part of the Manchester International Festival, with tickets going on sale the following day.[2] The musical, which is a co-production between the Manchester International Festival, the Royal National Theatre and the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris,[3] marks the 150th anniversary of the release of Alice's adventures in Wonderland.[4]

The idea for a musical based on Alice in Wonderland came from the artistic director of the Manchester International Festival, Alex Poots.[5]

Damon Albarn previously collaborated with the festival on Monkey: Journey to the West and Dr Dee.[5]

The musical has a book by Moira Buffini[6] and is directed by Rufus Norris,[7] with set design by Rae Smith,[8] costume design by Katrina Lindsay,[9] lighting design by Paule Constable,[8] projections by 59 Productions[10] and choreography by Javier De Frutos.[8] The musical's score is composed by Damon Albarn,[5] with lyrics by Moira Buffini,[5] sound design by Paul Arditti[8] and musical direction by David Shrubsole.[8] Wonder.land will be the first work in which Albarn has composed for another lyricist.[11]The musical's soundtrack is set to release on April 29th, 2016.[12]

Production history

The show's premiere production began previews at the Palace Theatre, Manchester on 29 June 2015, with its official opening night on 2 July, for a limited run until 12 July.[13] Following its premiere, the musical transferred in a heavily revised version at the National theatre, where it will ran at their Olivier Theatre from 27 November 2015 to the 30th of April 2016.[14] Finally, the premiere production stopped at Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris, France, for a limited run from the 7th til the 10th of June 2016.

Synopsis

NOTE: This synopsis is based of the completed, final version as seen at The National Theatre and onwards. Does not describe the Manchester World premiere version, which was significantly different in songs and some of the plot.

Act 1

The play opens with the MC sitting in a armchair who tells us about technology and how it is used as "a portal to boundless lands" ("Prologue") We are then introduced to teenager Aly. Her mother Bianca is exasperated with her as she has spend the entire weekend inside and on her phone. After some forceful persuading, Aly reluctantly follows her mum into the town and to the supermarket. Aly thinks that her life is being ruined by her parents and reflects on this whilst in the supermarket ("Who's Ruining Your Life?") Aly's father Matt is also in the supermarket and on meeting each other again, he and Bianca argue over their messy divorce and Matt's former gambling habits.

Aly goes home, and fed up with everything, picks up her phone. Seeking solace online, she tries to engage with a few people from school, but is left with her self confidence in tatters after they bully her ("Network"). Aly begins to wish that she is someone else entirely so she wouldn't have to deal with her parents's divorce or school bullies. After pasting "be someone Else" in a search engine, Aly comes across the Wonder.land app. Lead by the MC, she is enticed into this strange online world and creates an avatar for herself, the beautiful and kind Alice ("Wonder.land").

There is only one rule in Wonder.land- extreme malice will result in deletion from the game. Her new identity complete, Aly and Alice befriend each other and encounter the Cheshire Cat, who explains that you can be anyone you want to be here ("Fabulous"). Fascinated, Aly decides to go on a quest and Alice follows the white rabbit down a rabbit hole, falling past various unusual objects and musical notes ("Falling").

The next morning Aly is too distracted by Wonder.land on her phone to listen to her mum's complaints about baby brother Charlie. At school Aly plays Wonder.land on her phone through the corridors but has it confiscated by Ms Manxome, the school headmistress. In assembly, she laments about phone usage and tells the children that taking their pleasures from them is for their own good. ("I'm Right")

At break, Aly goes to Ms Manxome's office to retrieve her phone. Ms Manxome hands it back but gives her a warning- if she catches her with it again "its a beheading- I mean detention." In class Aly meets up with the three girls who bullied her online. They say they want to be friends but only if Aly says sorry. They begin to bully her again until the maths teacher, Mr King, enters. Aly's friend Luke walks in late yet again and is given a detention. Still hurt by the girls's comments, Aly goes on her phone in class and takes her frustration and sadness out on Alice. Alice cries a massive pool of tears but is interrupted by Dum and Dee, two fat twins fighting with each other ("Freaks"). Alice goes to try and befriend them but her attempts backfire and they begin to insult her. Aly decides to take action and makes Alice fight them. Dum and Dee cry and Aly and Alice spot a gigantic mouse coming towards them. The mouse likes Alice's fighting and introduces himself. They are soon joined by other players, the Dodo, the Mock Turtle and Humpty. The Dodo is stressed because his Eco-obsessed parents want him to save the planet. Dum and Dee are dancers but hate the pressure it puts them under. Humpty has problems with her parents. The Mock Turtle has no self-esteem and hates her avatar. The mouse is lustful. Wonderland is a place to hide for them all, taking away the pressures of teenage life ("Crap Life").

Aly snaps back to reality when Mr King asks her a maths question and she is unable to answer it. Given a detention, Aly walks out of class with everyone else. Confronting the three bullies, Aly makes fun of one of them for having facial hair and she runs into the bathroom to hide from them. Getting out her phone, she immerses herself in Wonder.land again, where Alice meets a strange Caterpillar who is obsessed with identity ("Who are You?") . Aly realizes she has no clue who she really is. She is interrupted by the three girls who proceed to taunt her about her father Matt's gambing problems and poverty. Aly is beaten up by them as they leave. Alone and her confidence at a new low, Aly seeks understanding in Alice, who is innocently still singing the Caterpillar's song. Alice is distraught at her friend's sadness and tries to get her to tell her what is wrong. Aly doesn't want to but Alice then reminds her that as an avatar, she isn't real. Aly is only admitting things to herself. Aly tells Alice her secrets about her family and how she hates her life, and is surprised that Alice has similar problems too, despite how liked and kind she is. ("Secrets")

Luke comes into the girls's toilets, terrified as he is being threatened with violence by Kieran. Luke hides in a cubicle whilst Kieran enters. Aly defends Luke and manages to make Kieran leave. Luke reveals that the reason why Kieran hates him is because, like himself, he is gay. Aly is amazed. The friends decide to skip class and sit and play their games on their smartphones. Luke plays Zombie Swarm, whilst Aly plays Wonder.land. Ms Manxome suddenly enters the toilets. Luke hides his phone but Aly fails to. Ms Manxome confiscates the phone for three months and Aly and Luke quickly exit. Alone, Ms Manxome finds that Aly hasn't locked her phone screen and that Alice is calling her. Ms Manxome begins to talk to her and Alice thinks she is still talking to Aly.

Meanwhile Aly laments her phone being taken away from her to Luke. Aly's father Matt arrives and decides to take them out to tea to celebrate. He has a new career at the local garden centre ("In Clover.") However once at the tea shop things quickly begin to go wrong as her father's manic tendencies result in him dancing on the tables and playing spoons on the table. When asked to stop he punches one of the waiters. Aly's mother Bianca arrives and the two begin to argue yet again. Aly is a still point in utter chaos and begins to notice that Wonder.land is invading reality as the MC emerges out of a gigantic teapot and the landscape outside becomes surreally strange. ("Chances")

Music (National Theatre version)

Act 1

Act 2

Principal Roles and Cast Members

Role World premiere version at Manchester[13] National Theatre[10] Théâtre Du Châtelet
Aly Lois Chimimba Lois Chimimba Lois Chimimba
Alice Rosalie Craig Carly Bawden Carly Bawden
Bianca Golda Roshuvel Golda Roshuvel Golda Roshuvel
Matt Paul Hilton Paul Hilton Paul Hilton
Ms Manxome Anna Francolini Anna Francolini Anna Francolini
MC/Cheshire Cat/Caterpillar Hal Fowler

(Note: The MC character did not exist in the Manchester version.)

 Hal Fowler Hal Fowler
Dodo Ivan De Freitas Ivan De Freitas Ivan De Freitas
Mouse David Page Ed Wade Ed Wade
Lizard Luke Fetherstone N/A N/A
Mock Turtle Cydney Uffindell-Phillips Cydney Uffindell-Phillips Cydney Uffindell-Phillips
Hedgehog Holly James N/A N/A
Humpty N/A Daisy Maywood Daisy Maywood
Dum Sam Archer Sam Archer Sam Archer
Dee Sam Mackay Leon Cooke Leon Cooke
White Rabbit Rob Compton Joshua Lacey Joshua Lacey
Luke Enyi Okoronkwo Enyi Okoronkwo Enyi Okoronkwo
Kitty Katrina Hind Abigail Rose Abigail Rose
Dinah Whitney White Whitney White Whitney White
Mary-Ann Daisy Maywood Stephanie Rojas Stephanie Rojas
Kieran Luke Fetherstone Ed Wade Ed Wade
Mr King N/A Adrian Grove Adrian Grove
PC Rook Lorraine Graham Nadine Cox Nadine Cox

Soundtrack

Songs from wonder.land
Soundtrack album by Damon Albarn
Released 15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)
Length 47:35
Label Parlophone
Producer Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn chronology
The Magic Whip
(2015)		 Songs from wonder.land
(2016)
Damon Albarn solo chronology
Live at the De De De Der
(2014)		 Songs from wonder.land
(2016)

Songs from wonder.land is the soundtrack to the musical and was first released on 15 April 2016.[15] The soundtrack is performed by the National Theatre cast and also features two songs not in the musical, "Japanese Duchess" and "Alice Saw".

Track listing

All lyrics written by Moira Buffini, all music composed by Damon Albarn.

No. Title Length
1. "Entre Act"   1:31
2. "wonder.land"   1:46
3. "Fabulous"   3:16
4. "Me"   5:17
5. "Secrets"   3:50
6. "In Clover"   2:57
7. "Avatars Holding Page"   2:01
8. "Who Are You"   5:32
9. "I'm Right"   2:55
10. "Everyone Loves Charlie"   4:44
11. "Japanese Duchess"   1:41
12. "Man of Broken Glass"   3:02
13. "Alice Saw"   3:03
Total length:
 47:35

References

  1. ↑ "Damon Albarn Preps Music for 'Alice in Wonderland'-Inspired Musical". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Damon Albarn writes music for new Alice in Wonderland musical". digitalspy.co.uk. Digital Spy. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Manchester International Festival announces new Damon Albarn musical inspired by Alice in Wonderland". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Manchester Evening News. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Damon Albarn writes Alice in Wonderland musical". bbc.co.uk/news (BBC News). 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Barnes, Anthony (21 January 2015). "Damon Albarn to bring Alice in Wonderland musical to the National Theatre". independent.co.uk (London: The Independent). Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Rufus Norris' Plans Caryl Churchill, Alice in Wonderland Musical and U.K. Premiere of The Motherf**ker with The Hat for His National Bow". playbill.com. Playbill. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "MIF15 guide: Damon Albarn musical wonder.land". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Manchester Evening News. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wonder.land cast and creatives". nationaltheatre.org.uk. Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Casting announced for Damon Albarn's wonder.land". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Wonder.land". nationaltheatre.org.uk. Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Damon Albarn and Carol Ann Duffy make Rufus Norris's National Theatre a wonderland". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Damon Albarn's Alice In Wonderland-inspired Musical Soundtrack Announced". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media.
  13. 1 2 "wonder.land a new musical". mif.co.uk. Manchester International Festival. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Tickets on sale for Damon Albarn musical wonder.land". whatsonstage.com. Whats On Stage. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Camp, Zoe (14 April 2016). "Damon Albarn's Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Musical Soundtrack Announced". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 April 2016.

External links

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