Repertory Philippines’ the White Rabbit and Alice go on a whimsical journey home filled with magical characters.
When we were all kids, there were but a handful of things that occupied our time, outside of school. After homework was done, there would always be time to play outside with your friends and siblings. On other days, it would be time spent with your nose in a book, and daydreaming of faraway lands and magical places. Somewhere in between was the wish that time would speed up, because it always seemed like the grown-ups were having the most fun.
While it may be a fairly common trope, it is told in a magical way by author Lewis Carroll in his timeless fairytale, Alice in Wonderland. The musical, adapted by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, is the latest offering under Repertory Philippines’ Rep Theater for Young Adults, running at their Eastwood theater until mid-December.
From the moment the curtain rises, you already know that everything about to unfold is of the magical, fantastical kind. Think of it as akin to being sucked into a book and the story is coming to life all around you. Co-directors Joy Virata and Cara Barredo make each encounter feel like they are all part of the basket of moments that spark joy in a myriad of ways. As the cast sings Curiouser and Curiouser, so does the audience become—wanting to know what lies beyond that door and over the hill, or after a game of flamingo croquet with the queen.
Taking the awesome and amazing over the top were creations by costume designers Hershee Tantiado and Phillip Domingo, and set designer Lawyn Cruz. It felt like the creative team was seeing the world through lenses sprinkled with some pixie dust—from the puppetry of the Cheshire Cat and the “playing cards” in the Queen’s guard, to the doors Alice had to walk through and the Mad Hatter’s crazy party.
Rep’s Artistic Director Jeremy Domingo quite eloquently described the experience of watching Alice in Wonderland when he said, “For many of the children and young people in the audience, this show will be their first encounter with the theater. I cannot think of a better choice for them to see than this one, with all the costumes, the music, and the magic of it all.”
Much of the magic that makes up Alice in Wonderland is made by its cast. Justine Narciso, in the titular role of Alice, layers her portrayal with wide-eyed wonder, a lot of heart, and an overflow of rizz. She leans into Alice’s childlike qualities, but holds space for a little bit of mischief, a little bit of kindness, and maybe even a bit more chutzpah. Last seen in Rep’s Going Home To Christmas, and Trumpets’ Joseph The Dreamer, this role showcases yet another side of Narciso as an actor, and setting her up for even bigger roles ahead. As the White Rabbit, Stephen Hotchkiss is a big bundle of energy, flitting across the stage proclaiming “I’m late” while jumping down imaginary rabbit holes. That he manages to do that in his costumes, which he says are rather hefty, is quite a feat.
Jay Pangilinan, as the Mock Turtle, had the audience, or probably just this writer, in stitches with a smattering of dad jokes delivered in a slow and deliberate cadence, pun intended. Hans Eckstein, as the Mad Hatter, and Pinky Marquez, as the Queen of Hearts, served up characters that were as wildly colorful and wildly vibrant as the costumes they wore. It almost feels like the actors’ imagination were allowed to run free as they created these characters alongside the show’s creative team.
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While Rep’s Alice in Wonderland takes one on a truly fantastical flight of fancy, at its heart is a reminder that oftentimes, we allow ourselves to wander off, thinking that the “better” lies on the other side of that proverbial door. Pretty deep for what is essentially a children’s story, right? But as humans, we are wont to do that.
There is a meme on Instagram that says, “The grass is greener where it is watered”—and there is so much truth to that. It took Alice going on an adventure in Wonderland to realize that home was where she belonged, and there is magic all around us. She just needed to open her eyes and heart to see it. Not always easy in this crazy world we live in, but it’s always been there.
Maybe that’s the other lesson Alice In Wonderland has for all of us—that the sense of wonder we so easily gave in to as kids, we need to hold on to it for dear life because it can get dreary out there. Who knows, you may spot the Mad Hatter and his merry band of friends, out of the corner of your eye, having tea in a nearby café.
Alice in Wonderland runs from August 23 to December 14 at the REP Eastwood Theater. Get your tickets now through TicketWorld at and Ticket2Me at for Orchestra Center.
