About Alice
28.6
2.1.2011
Rebecca Brodney,
StaffWriter
riistration By John Tenniel
Every four years the public enjoys
such monumental events as the Olym
pics, the World Cup and presidential
elections. At Meredith College, a
performance of Alice in Wonderland
is the special quadrennial occurrence
that brings the most excitement. On
the nights of January 20th and 21st of
2012, the Meredith community found
a new favorite rendition of one their
most beloved childhood stories.
Alice in Wonderland was performed
for the first time at Meredith College
on March 15,1924. According to Mer
edith legend, the first performance
came in the wake of an epidemic that
left the students, faculty and staff
quarantined on campus. To improve
the morale of their students, the pro
fessors decided to hold a production of
Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
Dr. Jean Jackson, a member of the
class of 1975 and director of all Alice
productions since 1992, says that she
has asked alumnae who attended Alice
for the first time in 1924 about the
rumor of an epidemic and subsequent
quarantine, but none can recall such
events. What is known for certain is
that Alice was the idea of Gertrude
Royster Sorrell, who was director of
physical education at the time.
A great deal of work goes into each
Alice production that requires months
of preparation. Beginning in the fall
of an Alice year. Dr. Jackson must
oversee the casting, costume and make
up, technical aspects, sets and invita
tions to alumnae. Fortunately, she
is not alone in managing all of these
elements of Alice. Others are in charge
of every one of the varying tasks, as
it is “very much a production of the
whole community.” By far the most
interesting part of Dr. Jackson’s job
as director is casting the roles for the
beloved Alice characters. According
to Dr. Robin Colby, Meredith alum
and professor of English, Dr. Jack-
son sends an e-mail to the faculty
inviting them to participate in Alice.
From there, those who are interested
identify which role they prefer. The
fate of their Meredith College acting
careers rests in Dr. Jackson’s hands.
Admittedly, she does consult with the
faculty in her decision-making. It is
not strange to ask an interested fac
ulty members if they have any qualms
about roller-skating across a stage.
But once they’re in Alice, most of the
time the faculty members remain in
the same role until they retire.
While the script is the same with
each production, as time goes on, ac
tors have been permitted to take more
creative liberties. When Dr. Jackson
first saw Alice as a freshman in 1973,
she felt that it was a very “straight”
performance, much like what the
students would have seen in 1924.
According to Dr. Colby, the Alice in
Wonderland of today is a very differ
ent production each night. Dr. Colby
further explains that the variations in
performances make it fun and chal
lenging for all.
“It is possible to see it
simply as a children’s
story or narrative. All of
us could use the lessons
with facing adversity,
fears, and making much
of ourselves regardless of
circumstance.”
Some of the contemporary touches of
this year’s production included the
opening scene, in which Dr. Jackson
made references to celebrities like
Lady Gaga and Beyonce. And keeping
up with technology, Alice took pic
tures of Wonderland with her phone.
While the play certainly reflects the
trends of our time, the audience will
surely recognize trademark quotes
such as “Off with her head!” or “You’re
just a pack of cards!” And of course,
no Alice production would ever be
complete without the famous tea party
scene.
The rehearsal schedule was grueling
for the faculty, who during the week of
the production practiced a minimum
of two hours nightly while still work
ing on campus. It seemed to be worth
it, though, especially when Dr. Colby
explains that it is “the closest we have
ever come to being Disney characters.”
The Meredith teaching community
grows very close during this process.
making it all the more sentimental
when retirees participate in their
final Alice. This year’s Alice saw the
loss of two well-loved members of the
production. Dr. Becky Bailey and Dr.
Jack Huber. Dr. Bailey has made and
designed all costumes worn in this
past production, and Dr. Huber has
been performing in Alice for about 40
years. Both Dr. Bailey and Dr. Huber’s
admirable dedication to Alice will be
missed.
When Dr. Colby and Dr. Jackson
were asked about which Alice char
acter was their favorite, they both
struggled to choose just one. How
ever, Dr. Jackson observes that it is
always Interesting to see how each
actor makes the performance his or
her own. She hopes that students will
leave this very special tradition know
ing “it is possible to see it simply as
a children’s story or narrative. All of
us could use the lessons with facing
adversity, fears, and making much of
ourselves regardless of circumstance.”
In looking forward to the next pro
duction of Alice in 2t)i6, President Jo
Allen explains that Meredith College is
a Wonderland and each student her
self is Alice; “it [Meredith] is a place
of wonder and a place of fear. There
are times of great confusion and times
when friends and mentors step in to
offer clarity ... the circumstances and
serendipity of our lives challenge us
constantly to find balances between
logic and imagination and discipline
and reality and whimsy . . . ‘oh my,’
as Alice would say.” In the face of
daunting challenges that students face
as they continue to grow. Dr. Allen
reminds us “Meredith offers a ‘safe
haven’ to test our dreams, cultivate
friends, and mentors who will help
with interpretations and recalibra
tions when we make missteps, and
help us find balance between all the
competing notions and opportunities
and risks we face .. . life is, indeed, a
Wonderland.”
^!N THIS ISSUE...
State & Local: Krispy Kreme Challenge, Knowing Non-Profit in NC, Videri Chocolate Factory, Rembrandt Exhibition
Arts & Entertainment: Rebecca Rants on The Bachelor, Award Show Season, Style Stalkers, Readership Suvrvey Results
Campus Life: Sound of Music, Life Its Own Self, Campus Calendar, Confessions of a Meredith Momma
Opinion: Just Another Day in February, Whines and Gripes, A Subtle Hypocrisy