In 2008 Calvin Christian High School presented the play Alice in Wonderland.  It was about Alice who followed a white rabbit with a pocket watch and fell down a hole into a totally different world.  She ends up exploring the adventures of this new, and wonderfully wacky, world.

Alice in Wonderland

PLACE: Wonderland

TIME: Wonderland is timeless

Act I: A rabbit hole

Act II: In the garden

Intermission

Act III: Still in the garden, awaiting the trial

Cast of Characters (in order of appearance)

White Rabbit…..…………………………….…………….…Ben Anderson

Alice…………………………………………..……………Hannah Nedrud

Caterpillar……………..………………...……………Mattie Koppendrayer

Cheshire Cat………………………………………………Adam Whitcomb

Duchess…………………………………………..........………Hanna Marra

Cook….……………………………..………………...………..…Kate Fate

Frog-Footmen……………………………………………Elizabeth Johnson

                        ……………………………………………Hannah Davidson

March Hare…………………………………………………Kelsey LeVahn

Mad Hatter……………………………..…………..………Hannah Brenton

Dormouse………………………………………..………Allison Livingston

Mock Turtles………………………………..……………………Ben Silker

                       ...……………………….………………………..Kerri Mulder

Fox………………………………...……………………...…....Dani Nelson

Tweedledum……….……....……………………………...…….Molly Barry

Tweedledee…………..……………..………………….......Hannah De Vries

King of Hearts……………………….…………………Nathan McCormick

Knave of Hearts….………………….……………………Micah Clipperton

Red Queen……………………….………………………Ashley Berkenpas

White Queen…………………...……………………………Miranda Akins

Executioner………………….………………..……………Jacob Teunissen

Stage manager: Rachel Mulder

Sound and light crew:  Eleanor Staricka and Lauren Schwabe

Set construction: Matt Bonnema, Kyle Brandes, Hannah Brenton, Brian Estrem, Annelise Posthuma, Jemma Storbakken, Jacob Teunissen, Ashley Berkenpas, Elizabeth Johnson, Rachel Mulder, Eleanor Staricka, Miranda Akins, Molly Barry, Hannah DeVries, Ben Anderson, Tom Brenton, Kate Fate, Claire Hinrichs, Kelsey LeVahn, Allison Livingston, Hanna Marra, Kerri Mulder, Dani Nelson, Max Severin, Casey Teunissen, Adam Whitcomb

Stage crew: Brian Estrem, Claire Hinrichs, Joanna Kelble, Max Severin,

Casey Teunissen

Costume design: Allison Livingston

Poster and program cover art:  Allison Livingston

Make-up:  Annelise Posthuma, Jemma Storbakken

Cast pictures: Hannah DeVries

Director's Notes

I have loved Alice in Wonderland since being introduced to it in an education course several years ago.  It is a story that reflects the kinds of questions that authentic learners ask.  Who am I?  What is the nature of the world around me? Alice thinks she knows. “I’m Alice…“I’m the head of my class”…“I was chosen to sing on the last day of school”.  She thinks she knows a great deal about the world as well; yet in Wonderland, she thinks London is the capital of Paris and four times five is twelve.  In Wonderland Alice encounters the unknown and is forced to re-imagine herself and the world around her.  Learning—at least authentic, meaningful learning that goes beyond mere labels and definitions—is a lot like that.

In Carroll’s original story, the Cheshire Cat became key in my understanding.  In the script, an adaption by Charlotte Chorpenning, the Cheshire Cat is not a character.  In our performance the Cheshire Cat has been added in an attempt to represent the elusive mystery of ourselves and the rest of created reality.  When we acknowledge the mystery of reality, it draws us, and we seek it out.  And what we find—if it’s real—is more elusive than definitive, leading us to more questions than answers.  Ironically, in both this story and in life, by asking the questions, we find ourselves. As Moishe the Beadle (Elie Wiesel’s Night) wisely says, “I pray to the God within me for the strength to ask Him the real questions.”

I have always loved the deeper meanings to this story; however, I have also come to love its playfulness.  Carroll loved children, and the story’s playful characters and language, its silliness, nonsense, and frank questions all represent what is delightful about children.  Whether you are moved by the deeper meanings or delighted by the story’s sheer playfulness, I hope you enjoy the show!

Wendell Schaap

Special thanks to…

Jason Eidsvoog (Voog Videos)—performance videotape

Greg Silker— production photography

Kris Livingston—costumes

Gail Bonnema, Amy Teunissen, and Terri De Vries—dinner organization

DCP Plays—video-taping rights

The many parents of CCHS and staff members of Grace EFC for their assistance with set construction, lights, and sound