Performing Arts

FORT WORTH – Ben Stevenson's Alice in Wonderland, presented at Bass Performance Hall by Texas Ballet Theater, charmed young and old Friday night with its witty and very British flourish.

Ricky Moon / Special to DMN

Carolyn Judson as Alice and Gregory Brown as the Caterpillar

Carolyn Judson, who played Alic on opening night, captures the character's sweet and dreamy nature with ebullient dancing and youthful facial expressions.

She sits atop a riverbank while reading a book. But when she lies down to nap, the White Rabbit (Thomas Kilps) suddenly appears. Before you know it, he slides down a long hole, and she follows.

Everything afterward happens quickly, with one fantastic scene after another. The White Rabbit bounds with unfettered energy, while the Duchess (Anna Donovan) whacks a doll with a pig face and throws it to the floppy-hatted cook (Robin Bangert), who drops the doll and the dishes. The Cheshire Cat (Peter Zweifel) looks loopy as he discovers a dozing cat that is good for dragging around.

And then there's the famous Mad Hatter's tea party, during which the Mad Hatter (Justin Urso) and the March Hare (Tim O'Keefe), slump onto their chairs, swing up to the ceiling and jump onto the table, knocking teacups everywhere.

The ending is a romp. The Queen of Hearts (Michael Clark) flips and tosses the very short King of Hearts (Eduardo Zuniga), copying the way the Duchess treated her doll. No mercy there. Nor is there for the Knave of Hearts.

"Off with his head!" the Queen orders. Alice tries repeatedly to intervene, but finally breaks down and cries, causing everyone in the court to sob.

Icing the cake are two beautiful classical episodes, one featuring butterflies and dragonflies in the first act, and one with 12 roses in the second act. The sections remind one of the Royal Ballet's The Sleeping Beauty; of tutus and pointe shoes; of delicate footwork, fluid arms, tilted heads and a constant flow of movement. The highlight is the pas de deux of Tiger Lily (Enrica Guana Tseng) in a filmy mustard dress and The Gardener (Lucas Priolo) in green. She's exquisite, while he's romantic. His lofty and swirling lifts appear effortless, giving the illusion that she's floating on air. She can balance forever in arabesque, and he can leap and turn with matchless power.

Adding immensely to the charm are fanciful costumes by Nadine Baylis and headpieces that include large claws on the lobsters and realistic heads for the dodo bird, ram, lion and unicorn, among others.

The costumes echo the illustrations in Lewis Carroll's books and are complemented by lighting designed for Houston Ballet by Tim Hunter and re-created here by Christina R. Giannelli.