“Alice in Wonderland” fall play aims to makes sense out of nonsense

By Cameron White, JCSD Communications Intern

JOHNSTON, IA. (Oct. 28, 2024) — More than 80 Johnston High School students will on Nov. 8 and 9 showcase months of hard work on and off stage when they bring you this year’s fall play, “Alice in Wonderland.”

At its surface, the play tells the story of the young girl Alice and her adventures in a strange new world full of eccentric characters. But the show features many deeper meanings — ideas of age and growing up, sense and nonsense, and themes on lessons and manners. Students in the play were encouraged to look deeper into the messages of the story. 

“We have spent a lot of time dissecting each scene and figuring out what they all mean, and I think it comes down to Alice is in a world where she doesn’t understand what’s going on and she is struggling to make sense of the people and the place around her,” said JHS junior Ella Devine, who plays the Duchess.

“She doesn’t always know what to say or do, but she does stand up for what she thinks is right,” Devine said. “I think many people all over can relate to feeling confused or overwhelmed by the craziness of the world, and watching Alice make her way through Wonderland is something many can relate to. Watching her grow up and find her place is something so universal and that is what I think it means and how we can all relate to it.”

Relating the play to their own lives

JHS senior and stage manager Finn Gould said the show has a very deep and personal meaning to him, as he just turned 18.

“One of the handful of themes is age and growing up,” Gould said. “I love all the nonsense this show brings, with lines like ‘It’s [mustard] a mineral, I think.’ It brings to the surface a weird feeling of familiarity, it feels like something I do constantly, making sense out of nonsense. ”

The show will have two performances, which are eagerly anticipated by students involved. Many JHS students in the cast have voiced their enjoyment of the production so far, and have been taking a deeper look at their characters.

“Being in the cast of this show has been a great experience, it’s been such a fun show to be a part of,” Devine said. “I think one of the things that is different from some other shows I’ve been a part of is the amount of work we have done working with the text and the characters so that we can really convey the themes of the show.”

“We do this for other shows but we really dove into it this year,” Devine said, “so we could understand the historical situation of things going on when Lewis Carroll was writing the original books, and how that connects to events of the show as well as morals and themes that are present.”

Gould, as production stage manager, serves as the eyes of the director. His multiple roles in the play have kept him very busy.

“I mediate questions and conflicts between students and the director and conduct the stage managers (who lead the other crew sections),” he said. “I am also the calling manager and props master. I am always doing something, whether that is filling in for actors, calling queues, or overseeing technical aspects of the show.”

Almost showtime 

While the show is a magical journey through a wondrous world, there still have been challenges with the production. However, students have learned to persevere and keep moving forward, gaining valuable real-world experience and skills. 

“I’ve learned a lot about work ethic,” said senior Theo Miller, who plays the White Knight. “I got a bigger part, so I’ve had lots of lines to memorize.”

As the performance date comes closer and closer, these past few weeks of rehearsals have been intense. Students will soon adapt from performing in the empty auditorium to being in a crowded space with plenty of family, friends and other theater goers.

Over the years, Johnston High School Drama Department has a history of putting on great fall plays and spring musicals, often receiving accolades at the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards. Performances of “Alice in Wonderland” will be held Nov. 8 and 9. Tickets are available  at gobound.com/ia/schools/johnston/tickets.