Students to perform 'Alice in Wonderland'

Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal

Keith Jewett, Morgan McDonald, Tad Jewett and Aaron Patton rehearse their parts in "Alice in Wonderland," a play to be presented at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, on the the Livermore Falls High School stage.

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- Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal

Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal

The Rev. Rick Messana, left, of Livermore, portrays author Lewis Carroll during "Alice in Wonderland," which will be presented at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Livermore Falls High School. Actimg out their parts in the play are Morgan McDonald, Aaron Patton, and brothers Tad and Aaron Jewett

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- Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS — Junior Elizabeth White has been in every theatrical performance drama teacher Anne Weatherbee has offered since she was a freshman at Livermore Falls High School.

This year is no different.

White, 16, of Livermore will transform into the duchess during performances of "Alice in Wonderland," a two-act musical play. There are two showings, one at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and the second at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, at the high school cafeteria/stage.

White was among more than 30 people, mostly students, from several towns, who turned out for rehearsal this day.

She sat in the back of the cafeteria, alone at a table, her script spread open before her, her lines highlighted in yellow.

Weatherbee of Jay was sitting on her stool at her podium facing the stage. She watched and gave directions to the students on stage.

"Ever since I've been in high school, I've been in everything ‘Ms. B' has offered," White said. "I love it. Theater has always struck my interest. I love being on the stage. I'm considering pursuing it in college."

Theater is more than just being on stage.

"I think, over the years, I've learned responsibility: make sure you're at rehearsal, know your lines, know your part because it's like a clock. We all have to put in our work together so that it will work."

The December play is no different than most of Weatherbee's productions.

Lots of color, lots of characters and lots of detailed sets.

"She just loves putting in color," White said. "She makes a lot of costumes. She works very hard."

The producer also has added her own touches to the production.

The play is about a girl, named Alice, who falls down a rabbit hole. It has drawn a lot of other student and adult actors. Weatherbee added more characters to the storyline to fit in the number of people who turned out to participate.

Alice "wakes up in a bizarre world where everything is abnormal," White said.

That includes animals talking.

The Rev. Rick Messana of Livermore portrays author Lewis Carroll, who sits off to the side of the stage. He is one of the additional characters.

On Saturday, he sat on a stool at a writing podium in the front corner of the stage. A full bookcase stood behind him, etched with the appearance of hardcover books.

The script has Carroll write his book and narrate it. As he does the characters he envisions appear on stage, "Alice in Wonderland."

"All the characters in the play are in a real world," White said, "and you see the characters transition between characters."

Alice's adventure starts when she becomes bored and drifts into a sleepy state.

White's character, the duchess, is obsessed with pepper that keeps White sneezing and sneezing during her performance. She sings a song about trying to make her child like it.

"It's kind of bizarre but funny at the same time," she said of the play.

dperry@sunjournal.com

WHAT: "Alice in Wonderland"

WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5

WHERE: Livermore Falls High School stage

COST: Admission $5