Coping with a Topsy-Turvy World (Mind's Eye Theatre Company)
- stagedoorlouisville
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
Alice By Heart
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Stephen Sater
Book by Stephen Sater and Jesse Nelson
Directed by Cate Gaglio Inge Assistant Directed by Andrew Yates
Musical Directed by Nina Espinueva-Yates
Review by Regina Harris
EnEre contents are copyright © 2026 Regina Harris. All Rights Reserved
Set in a bomb shelter during the London blitz, Alice By Heart follows a group of frightened Londoners struggling to cope with the trauma of war. Young Alice Spencer has lost everything except her best friend Alfred and her beloved copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. But Alfred is dying and when a nurse, frustrated by Alice’s determination to escape reality through the book, tears it apart, undeterred Alice turns to the story she knows “by heart.” As Alfred’s condition worsens, she retreats into the world of Wonderland, using its familiar characters and adventures for comfort while coming of age amid extreme circumstances.
Wonderland’s topsy-turvy world is populated by colorful cast of characters, all brought vividly to life by the actors of Mind’s Eye Theatre Company. At the heart of the story, Alice Spencer (sweetly portrayed by Ava Marcella the first weekend of the run and Kristina Nguyen thereafter) and Alfred Hallum (touchingly portrayed by Nicholas Gabis) are two young people whose relationship forms the emotional core of this production. They are painfully aware that their time together is running short.
Each of the Londoners, defined by their own unique struggles and quirks, slip in and out of Wonderland’s eccentric characters with a fluidity which is almost dizzying. The cast kept the beat along with the excellent live band; but at times the volume of the band overwhelmed the dialogue and singing voices, making the dialogue and parts of the story inaccessible until we could catch up. The small Mex space is a challenge for a large cast and set to include band equipment as well. Nonetheless, kudos to the musicianship of the band.
All the performances were solid, with exceptionally notable performances by Mimi Housewright as the efficient Red Cross Nurse changing to manic Red Queen like quicksilver; the very versatile Lucy Fitzgerald as beleaguered Dr. Butridge morphing into the very “punny” Mock Turtle; Eli Borwick as cynical Angus shifting to the perpetually (a
nd hilariously) high Caterpillar; Annie Mayer as wily Tabatha slinking about as sexy Chesire kitten; and Taylor Clemons who camped it up as the Duchess. The remaining ensemble were convincing, and at times heartbreaking, as adults and children dealing with life-threatening events and horrifying circumstances.
For being streamlined, the costumes were delightfully creative and well- suited to Wonderland’s hallucinogenic chaos. Just as impressive is the staging: working within the confines of the intimate Mex Theater, the production team capably blended a gritty World War II bunker with a chaotic make-believe courtroom.
This production challenges the audience’s ability to “believe six impossible things before breakfast” while touching the chords of humor and introspection. Alice’s reality may be bleak, but her journey through Wonderland helps her confront life’s most difficult questions: what do we do with the time we have? How do we discover ourselves amid traumas? As Alice observes, “I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must’ve been changed several times since then.”
So, too, is the audience after this thoughtful and imaginative production.
Alice By Heart Mind's Eye Theatre Company
June 12, 13 @ 7:30 pm
June 14 @ 3:00 pm
June 18, 19 @ 7:30 pm
June 20 @ 3pm
Kentucky Performing Arts Mex Theatre
501 W. Main St.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 584-7777
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