The play is based on two books by Lewis Carroll "Alice's Adventures Underground" and "Through the Looking-glass." There have been several presentations, each with its own strengths or weakness. This is a 1983 TV presentation of which you can see that lots of time and energy went into it. This is Great Performances season 12 episode 2. Episode aired Oct 3, 1983.
We go through the story at "light speed" only to slow down for a few badly placed songs. This presentation should be an embarrassment to everyone involved. However, if you did not know any better a log of Lewis Carroll's humor and way with words comes through. There is a little television trickery that actually helps the presentation.
You would think with such a great cast that it could not fail: Kate Burton as Alice (at 26 years old) Austin Pendleton as White Rabbit Richard Burton as White Knight James Coco as King of Hearts Tony Cummings as Knave of Hearts Alan Weeks as Tweedledee André De Shields as Tweedledum Eve Arden as Queen of Hearts Maureen Stapleton as White Queen Colleen Dewhurst as Red Queen Andre Gregory as Mad Hatter Geoffrey Holder as Cheshire Cat Zeljko Ivanek as March Hare Nathan Lane as Mouse Donald O'Connor as Mock Turtle Swen Swenson as Gryphon Fritz Weaver as Caterpillar Richard Woods as Humpty-Dumpty
Bottom line this presentation takes an effort to get through.
We go through the story at "light speed" only to slow down for a few badly placed songs. This presentation should be an embarrassment to everyone involved. However, if you did not know any better a log of Lewis Carroll's humor and way with words comes through. There is a little television trickery that actually helps the presentation.
You would think with such a great cast that it could not fail: Kate Burton as Alice (at 26 years old) Austin Pendleton as White Rabbit Richard Burton as White Knight James Coco as King of Hearts Tony Cummings as Knave of Hearts Alan Weeks as Tweedledee André De Shields as Tweedledum Eve Arden as Queen of Hearts Maureen Stapleton as White Queen Colleen Dewhurst as Red Queen Andre Gregory as Mad Hatter Geoffrey Holder as Cheshire Cat Zeljko Ivanek as March Hare Nathan Lane as Mouse Donald O'Connor as Mock Turtle Swen Swenson as Gryphon Fritz Weaver as Caterpillar Richard Woods as Humpty-Dumpty
Bottom line this presentation takes an effort to get through.