In Jasmine Vardimon Company’s electrifying interpretation of ALiCE, the surreal meets the sublime in a riot of dance, physical theatre, and striking visual storytelling.
From the moment we enter the auditorium, the audience is plunged into a dreamlike world where the boundaries of logic, identity, and time dissolve.
Rather than a literal retelling of Alice in Wonderland, Vardimon’s ALiCE is a vivid psychological journey. At its heart is Alice herself — both protagonist and lens — performed with stunning intensity and grace by Liudmila Loglisci.
Her confusion, rebellion, and awakening are rendered through exquisite movement, much of which takes place on or around a giant revolving book. The pages serve not only as a clever stage device but also as portals to projection, memory, and fantasy.
Whilst all the cast took on multiple roles, the standout performers of the evening were undeniably the women. Alice commanded the stage, her athleticism matched only by her vulnerability. Risa Maki’s Queen of Hearts delivered a terrifyingly regal presence — controlling, comedic, and cruel in equal measure — while Juliette Tellier’s Cat slinked through the scenes with magnetic charisma and feline precision. These roles anchored the surreal world with emotional weight and striking physicality, stealing every scene they were in.
Scenes such as the tea party or the fall through the rabbit hole are reimagined through intense choreography, shadow play, and unexpected humour. Vardimon’s signature style — muscular, raw, and cinematic — is in full force here. There are moments of disorientation, violence, tenderness, and joy, all woven together in a tightly scored soundscape and ever-shifting light design.
More than just a visual feast, ALiCE invites reflection on the nature of identity, mental health, and control. Alice’s journey feels internal as much as fantastical. By the show’s end, you’re left breathless — not just by the spectacle, but by the emotional impact.
In short, this is no children’s tale. It’s a seductive, provocative, and artistically rich exploration of what it means to fall, transform, and reclaim yourself — and a must-see for lovers of boundary-pushing contemporary performance.
Review by Tanya Louse
Editor
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