Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Given that so much of Lewis Carroll's titular classic tale is based on clever wordplay, it might seem unwise to base a ballet on the book, but choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's adaptation for London's Royal Ballet ends up working surprisingly well. Granted, some of the most famous episodes, such as the Mad Hatter's tea party, suffer badly from the lack of dialogue; and in order to contrive a romance (with the son of the family's gardener, transformed into the Jack of Hearts), Alice must be made considerably older. But Joby Talbot's score, while not terribly memorable, provides ample opportunity for the company to shine, with Lauren Cuthbertson, who is onstage virtually nonstop, standing out as Alice, and the others, including Sergei Polunin as Jack, providing strong support. The physical production is consistently colorful, boasting some clever and enthralling visual effects, such as the appearance and disappearance of the Cheshire cat (a bevy of dancers conceal parts of the feline's body by a simple turn of their own). The animated back-projection video, capturing the initial tumble into Wonderland, is also eye-catching. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland may never be a classic ballet but it will surely provide enjoyment across the age spectrum. Presented in DTS 5.1 and LPCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a “making-of” featurette hosted by Cuthbertson, and a cast gallery. Recommended. (F. Swietek)