Through the looking glass

"Through the Looking Glass" is a theatrical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's beloved works, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," dramatized by Alice Gerstenberg. The play opens with Alice, a curious young girl, observing her uncle, Lewis Carroll, playing chess. Her imagination is piqued by the idea of entering the looking-glass world, a mirror image of her own reality. As she drifts into sleep, Alice finds herself stepping through the looking glass into a fantastical realm where logic is inverted and the absurd becomes the norm. In this whimsical world, Alice encounters a host of peculiar characters, including the Red Queen, who instructs her on the rules of the chess-like world, and the White Queen, who lives life backward. Alice's journey is marked by a series of bizarre and humorous interactions with characters such as Humpty Dumpty, the White Rabbit, and the Gryphon. Each encounter challenges her understanding of reality and language, as words and meanings are playfully twisted. The narrative unfolds through a series of vignettes, each highlighting the nonsensical and often satirical nature of the looking-glass world. Alice's adventures lead her to a tea party with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, a chaotic croquet game with the Queen of Hearts, and a poignant moment with the Mock Turtle. Throughout her journey, Alice navigates the challenges of this topsy-turvy world with curiosity and resilience, ultimately seeking a way back to her own reality. Gerstenberg's adaptation captures the essence of Carroll's original works, blending humor, fantasy, and a touch of philosophical inquiry. The play invites audiences to reflect on the nature of identity, language, and the boundaries of imagination, all while delighting in the whimsical charm of Alice's adventures.