Cate Lightbody, Aidan Fracker, and Cast Photo by Photo by Erin Pence

Alice by Heart is a unique adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's "Adventures in Wonderland." In this version, set in 1941 during the London Blitz bombings, we see teenager Alice Spencer and other displaced teens living in a London Underground tube station in order to remain safe. Alice's best friend Alfred is suffering from tuberculosis, and she reads him Carroll's book to help them both escape the reality of war and disease that surrounds them. The denizens of the shelter soon become the Wonderland characters as she proceeds in her reading.

The book for the musical is by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson. While the premise is a fine one, it isn't developed or implemented sufficiently. Carroll's original 1865 piece is an example of the literary nonsense genre, with chaos and confusion being the norm. Most strong adaptations of the piece have captured that nonsensical tone while bringing some clarity in the storytelling to assist the audience. For Alice by Heart, trying to connect and intertwine the World War II characters and their situations just adds to the pandemonium, and the Wonderland elements are extreme in their wackiness. The result is a muddled mess of a story.

The score by Duncan Sheik (music) and Steven Sater (lyrics), who are known primarily for their score for Spring Awakening, doesn't help matters either. Sater is excellent in providing beautiful, poetic lyrics, many of which are heard here, but this story needs specificity, which the lyrics don't supply. His best work is found in "Your Shell of Grief." Sheik's music is very reminiscent of Spring Awakening stylistically, but not nearly as strong. The finest melodies in Alice by Heart are only on par with his weakest work in Spring Awakening. Even so, "Winter Blooms", "Still", and "Some Things Fall Away" are the strongest moments in the score.

Despite the many shortcomings of the material, Wright State is providing a first-rate mounting of the show. Director and choreographer Greg Hellems skillfully connects the material to universal societal concerns and supplies imaginative and highly theatrical ideas to the production. The cloud of grief which surrounds the setting is captured in the tone of his staging, and the Wonderland moments are stark and evocative. There is delightful use of props as well. Especially noteworthy is his staging of "Your Shell of Grief." The choreography is varied, sometimes harkening back to the style of the original production of Spring Awakening (which is a good fit for the music) and sometimes more traditional. The use of the ensemble to expand the role of the caterpillar is clever. Music director Wade Russo leads a solid pit orchestra.

As Alice, Cate Lightbody provides the right balance of spunky determination and endearing kindness, and her singing vocals sound effortless and strong. Aidan Fracker (Alfred) provides solid vocals and acting in one of the piece's less showy roles. Dominic Cullen (Dodgy/Duchess) and Grace Goodwin (Nurse/Queen of Hearts) chew the scenery as they embody these fierce characters, and as the Cheshire Cat, Juno Brosas sparkles in her scenes. The entire cast is to be commended for providing sharp, distinct, and committed performances.

The set captures the look and feel of a 1940s London tube station, and the various commonplace items such as a ladder, cots, and crates are put to inventive use in design by Michael S. Brewer. The costumes by George Sarofeen likewise capture the World War II period look. The Wonderland sections have outfits which are aptly confusing, with some praiseworthy creativity for the caterpillar and turtle numbers, for the Queen of Hearts. The lighting by Zach Wuest is professionally rendered, focusing and highlighting the action effectively and adding to the mood.

Kudos to Wright State University for doing something new and interesting, and for providing a wonderful staging of Alice by Heart. The performers get to tackle some meaty material and their talent and hard work are evident. Unfortunately, the show itself just isn't very good, and audiences might be wise to temper their expectations only for that reason.

Alice by Heart runs through March 30, 2025, at WSU, Festival Playhouse, Creative Arts Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton OH. For tickets and information, please call 937-775-2500 or visit wrightliberalarts.universitytickets.com/w/.