Presented by Satin
Reviewed 14 February 2015
A psychedelic, lively show that defies genre and all expectations, A Mad Tea Party is sure to be a favourite for kids, both little and big.
Having already caused quite a stir at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, this performance has arrived in Adelaide, bringing with it some fantastic Victorian talent.
First things first, even though this show is called a “children’s event” I would hardly say it’s wholly aimed at kids. Of course, there’s plenty of potty humour and audience interaction to keep kids enthralled, but there is also a lot of deceivingly deep and psychological subtext. The script itself is also very creative and colourful, presenting the truly mad view of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland that we’ve all been waiting for.
While the script might be a little over the heads of the younger members of the audience, there is definitely enough physical theatre, vaudeville, dance and singing to maintain their interest in the (rather eccentric and nonsensical) story.
Under the direction of Timothy Christopher Ryan and Samantha Wojcik, the six performers in this play all work together incredibly well to perform flips, handstands, pyramids and all forms of physical theatre. Alice’s singing is great and all cast members’ dancing is incredibly precise and energetic, especially during the scenes featuring contemporary electronic dance music.
A Mad Tea Party is a really hypnotising experience. If it weren’t for the awful heat of the day I would have been happy wandering around this insane wonderland for a few hours more! Embrace your inner weird and check it out before it leaves tomorrow (or leave the kids at home and head to the alternative version, A F*#king Mad Tea Party at The Elephant British Pub on Cinema Place, Adelaide).
Reviewed by James Rudd
Rating out of 5: 3
Venue: La Petite Grande, Gluttony – Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka, Cnr East Tce and Rundle St
Season: 14 – 15 February 2015
Duration: 1 hour
Tickets: $14 – $20
Bookings: Book through FringeTix online or at a FringeTix box office (booking fees apply)
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