Once the show proper starts, we’re led into a standard panto quest.
Alice tumbles into the task of finding the key to rewind the Grand Clock and thereby save Wonderland from the Wrong Royal Red Queen and her evil followers.
Doing this entails, naturally, surviving many trials and overcoming many obstacles.
Director Penelope Hare has assembled a cast of 30 mostly young performers, all radiating confidence and enthusiasm.
Lizzie Thomson as Alice has all the plucky charm of Lewis Carroll’s original, Nic Turner is a stunning pantomime dame as the Right Royal Red Queen, Zac Henry personifies nastiness as Bandersnatch and Tōmuri Spicer is refreshingly down to earth as Harry.
I could go on and on, but special mention must be made of 11-year-old Libby Maclennan in the role of the Jabberwocky.
Everyone dances, sings and generally entertains us for an hour or so, then after the interval (ice creams! tarts!) things take a darker turn and whether things turn out all right I will leave you to find out.
Songs and dances choreographed by musical director Tobias Devereux add value to Ben Crocker’s script and keep us happy, and Maegan Steadman-Ashton’s costumes give us even more to look at.
As well, about 40 people are involved in various roles ranging from stage management, lighting and sets to front of house and the production of a lavish souvenir programme.
Overall, a great community effort, lots of Christmas fun for families and a tribute to the seemingly limitless skills of production manager Brent Caldwell.
The show is over two hours long and the season will run until December 14, with a low-sensory performance on December 9.
