About 150 years after English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson wrote “Alice in Wonderland,” members of the Cortez Middle School drama department are set to bring the classic novel to life this weekend.
Performances will take place at the Cortez Middle School theater at 7 p.m. on April 17 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on April 18. Fifty-eight middle school students will be involved in the production, which actors and actresses described as a “can’t miss” performance.
“Our play will be very interesting, and it will have a lot of cool and unique characters,” said seventh-grader Rachael Burson, who is the play’s assistant director. “Everyone was cast really well based on their personalities.”
Among the characters sure to make waves with the audience will be Alice, who is played by eighth-grader Amanda Sturman, and whose adventures serve as the backdrop for the play’s plot.
“Memorizing the lines has been challenging,” said Sturman. “I’ve acted in quite a few plays, but this is my first lead role.”
Other main characters include the Queen of Hearts, who will be played by eighth-grader Clarissa Dukeminier, and Humpty Dumpty, who will be played by seventh-grader Davian Robinson.
“(The Queen of Hearts) is evil and grouchy, but I enjoy the role,” said Dukeminier. “It gives me a way of venting my anger out.”
“(Humpty Dumpty) is very awkward and complicated,” said Robinson. “The role fits me perfectly.”
Actors and actresses said that “Alice in Wonderland” will be staged on a colorful and complex set, which will include a giant chess board, a giant mushroom and the props necessary for a crazy tea party.
“The concept with our set was to make sure that everything would flow and move easily,” said Gabardi. “Alice moves quickly through her adventure and we wanted the set to match that.”
The play will be the second major production staged by Cortez Middle School students this year after students produced “Snow White” in December.
“The people (in the play) are all really cool kids,” said Burson. “I really like them.”
“I hope that members of the community come and watch our play,” added Dukeminier. “It’s different than what people are used to and I think people will enjoy it.”