Alice by Heart
A young girl takes refuge in a London Tube station during WWII and confronts grief, loss, and love with the help of her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland.
International and Regional restrictions may apply.
Show Essentials
12
Roles
+ Ensemble
M
Rated
1
Act

Full Synopsis

It is 1941 during the London Blitz of World War II. We are in an emergency bunker in a tube station amid posh kids sipping tea, working-class kids gambling rations, and a wounded soldier crying out from PTSD. Amidst the chaos sits a young girl, Alice, who loves nothing so much in the world as her ailing, near-dying young friend, Alfred. He lies in quarantine, suffering from tuberculosis under the care of a Red Cross Nurse. The Nurse warns the girl: "Catch that boy's cough, he'll be your death." Alice is in denial about the impending death of her friend and years to escape from the horror of the world she’s in. (“West of Words”).

Alice begs Alfred to escape with her into the world of the book they used to read as children Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She promises he'll be able to run and breathe there."It's too late for all that now," Alfred declares. And before Alice can read another word, the Nurse snatches the book from her hands, rips it apart, and hurls it across the tracks, its dusty pages scattering everywhere. Alice becomes very defiant and declares: "I'll show you. I'll bring you. I know it all by heart."

With that, Alice begins reciting the book, filling the words with her passion. And as she recites, Alfred rises from his cot and turns into the White Rabbit. A homeless girl in bandages transforms into a grinning Cheshire Cat. The Red Cross Nurse becomes the Queen of Hearts, the PTSD-stricken soldier becomes the Mad Hatter, and the entire Underground transforms into Wonderland (“Down The Hole”).

Alice begins a journey through a rather different Wonderland, with characters as bizarre and alive as the world she's just left. As she wanders through Wonderland she runs into two Caterpillars, both older and roguish, who tease her about the way her body has changed and they seduce her with the sweet fumes of hookah. (“Chillin' The Regrets”).

The White Rabbit finds Alice with the Caterpillars, and she has succumbed to the allures of hookah. Seeing that she has been distracted, he reminds her that she is not following the story and that she has skipped a chapter. They try to resume from where they left off, but Alice begins to entice the White Rabbit with hookah. He reminds her that the Queen will have is head if he relents. Alice tells him that they are in charge of their own story, and the White Rabbit takes a puff (“The Key Is”).

Shortly after, Alice and the White Rabbit meet the Cheshire Cat, who entices them into a golden waltz with lobsters. As the two shyly dance together, they realize their full feelings for one another (“Those Long Eyes”). After their dance, White Rabbit becomes anxious about keeping up with the time and runs off.

In the meantime, Alice encounters the Duchess, who demeans her body and antagonizes her for growing up too fast. The Duchess tells Alice that her body developing is causing hers to fade away. As she berates Alice, she informs her that the Queen has invited them to play croquet (“Manage Your Flamingo”).

At the croquet game, a bomb sounds and the entire world of Wonderland disappears. We are transported back to the bunker where we see all of the young people under their cots afraid for their lives. Alfred begins to read from the book again, but Alice notices he’s skipping to the end. He tells her he has to get to the story’s end before he reaches his own end. Alice begs Alfred to stop talking like that and refuses to let him go. Alfred comforts her, assuring that he will try to make it easy for her.

Alfred rises from his cot, turns into the March Hare, and joins the Mad Hatter and Dormouse at a table for a Wonderland Tea Party. They push Alice around the table, telling her that there is no room at the table. As they insult and taunt her, the March Hare says the meanest things of them all - to get Alice to hate him. (“Sick To Death of Alice-Ness”).

Alice finally has had enough and declares she hates Alfred. He succumbs to a cough and is taken away on a stretcher. She tries to take it back, but soon after, a doctor spewing medical jargon turns into the terrifying Jabberwocky. The Underground becomes a macabre party, blaring with house music (“Brillig Braelig”). Alice fights back against the Jabberwocky and banishes him.

The Cheshire Cat appears to her again. Alice asks for advice on how to make Alfred stay with her. The Cheshire Cat tells her that there’s no bargaining with death and that she must to let Alfred go (“Some Things Fall Away”).

Alice then meets the Mock Turtles, who encourage her to not move on and to live in her grief (“Your Shell of Grief”).

Alfred returns, telling Alice that he wants to finish the story with her, but Alice, taking the Mock Turtles' advice, pleads with him not to move on. Alfred asks how Alice will grieve him, both of them lamenting about what could have been. But alas, he truly is the White Rabbit. He is running out of time. Alfred just wants to make it through the story one last time. Alice tries to kiss him, hoping to contract tuberculosis and die with him, but Alfred stops her. In time, she will be fine, he assures her (“Another Room In Your Head”).

Against Alice’s pleas, Alfred continues the story, turning back into the White Rabbit as Alice’s trial begins. The Queen and King of Hearts come forward. The Queen dresses down Alice, ridiculing her in front of the citizens of Wonderland (“Isn’t It A Trial?”). As the White Rabbit reads off the accusations, the characters gang up on her, telling her that she isn’t the only Alice that enters Wonderland (“Do You Think We Think You’re Alice?”).

Tired of all the ridicule and abuse, Alice finally stands up for herself, with Alfred coming to her defense. The Cheshire Cat helps them break out of Wonderland and return to reality ("I've Shrunk Enough"). Alice and Alfred admit their feelings for one another as he dies (“Afternoon”).

The show ends with Alice accepting Alfred's death and looking to the future. After her adventures, Alice has learned how to love, how to let go, and how to move forward (“Winter Blooms”).

Casting
← Back to Alice by Heart
Cast Size: Small (Up to 10 performers)
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast

Character Breakdown

Alice Spencer / Alice

A young woman full of questions and wonder. Very driven for what she wants.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 23
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Alfred Hallam / White Rabbit / March Hare

Alice's close friend. Also appears in the show as White Rabbit and March Hare.

Gender: male
Age: 18 to 23
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Red Cross Nurse / Queen of Hearts

Also appears in the show as Queen of Hearts

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Harold Pudding / Mad Hatter
Array
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Tabatha/Cheshire Cat:

Also appears in the show as Cheshire Cat

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Dodgy / Duchess
Array
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Clarissa / Mock Mock Mock Turtle
Array
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Nigel / Dormouse
Array
Gender: male
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: E3
Angus / Caterpillar 1

Also appears in the show as Caterpillar and Knave of Hearts

Gender: male
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: F3
Dr. Butridge / King Of Hearts / Jabberwocky
Array
Gender: male
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Caterpillar 2

The role of Caterpillar 2 can be cast according to the needs of each production. An additional actor can be cast or perhaps the actor playing Tabatha or Clarissa (or another role) can play the part.

Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Young Alice
Array
Gender: female
Vocal range top: A#4
Vocal range bottom: F#4
Young Alfred
Array
Gender: male
Vocal range bottom: C#4
Ensemble
Array
Casting Note

The following roles can be cast as best suits the needs of any given production:

CATERPILLAR 2
KNAVE OF SPADES
KNAVE OF HEARTS
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
MOCK TURTLE
MOCK MOCK TURTLE
MOCK MOCK MOCK MOCK TURTLE

For the premiere at MCC Theater, the roles were divided as follows:

1. ALICE SPENCER / ALICE
2. ALFRED HALLAM / WHITE RABBIT / MARCH HARE
3. RED CROSS NURSE / QUEEN OF HEARTS
4. HAROLD PUDDING / MAD HATTER / KNAVE OF SPADES / MOCK MOCK TURTLE
5. TABATHA / CHESHIRE CAT
6. DODGY / DUCHESS / MOCK MOCK MOCK MOCK TURTLE
7. CLARISSA QUEEN OF DIAMONDS / MOCK MOCK MOCK TURTLE
8. NIGEL / DORMOUSE / KNAVE OF CLUBS
9. ANGUS / CATERPILLAR / KNAVE OF HEARTS
10. DR. BUTRIDGE / KING OF HEARTS / JABBERWOCKY / MOCK TURTLE

Full Song List
Alice by Heart: West of Words
Alice by Heart: Down The Hole
Alice by Heart: Still
Alice by Heart: Chillin' The Regrets
Alice by Heart: The Key Is
Alice by Heart: Those Long Eyes
Alice by Heart: Manage Your Flamingo
Alice by Heart: Sick to Death of Alice-Ness
Alice by Heart: Brilig Braelig
Alice by Heart: Some Things Fall Away
Alice by Heart: Your Shell of Grief
Alice by Heart: Another Room In Your Head
Alice by Heart: Isn't It A Trial?
Alice by Heart: Do You Think We Think You're Alice?
Alice by Heart: I've Shrunk Enough
Alice by Heart: Afternoon
Alice by Heart: Winter Blooms

Billing

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Licence Agreement, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on house-boards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind. You agree to supply to the Licensor full details of all such material for Licensor’s approval prior to printing and distribution and supply two (2) copies of the program after printing.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
 
ALICE BY HEART
 
Book by
Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson
 
Music by
Duncan Sheik
 
Lyrics by
Steven Sater
 
ADDITIONAL TITLE PAGE BILLING: You are required to include the following credits on the title page for all programs for the Play:
Orchestrations by
Duncan Sheik
Additional Orchestrations by
Simon Hale
Vocal Arrangements by
Jason Hart
Alice by Heart was first commissioned and produced by National Theatre Connections in 2012
Developed with the Assistance of Theatre Aspen, Aspen, Colorado
 
A workshop production of Alice by Heart was presented by New York Stage and Film & Vassar at The Powerhouse Theater, Summer 2018
 
New York Premiere at the MCC Theater February 26, 2019 Artistic Directors: Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, & William Cantler Executive Director: Blake West
 
SHORTENED BILLING: In advertisements of 1/4 page size or less, and online and mobile ads where in each case only the title of the play, performance dates and venue are provided and in outdoor advertising, transit and taxi ads and marquees where no other person is billed, the following “shortened billing” is permissible:
ALICE BY HEART
 
BIOS: In addition to the foregoing credits, you are required to include the Owners’ approved biographies in all programs of the Play that include biographies of any other creative team members. Bios can be found on the MTI website at: https://www.mtishows.com/about/author-bios
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
KEYBOARD 1-CONDUCTOR SCORE1
LIBRETTO VOCAL DIGITAL1
STANDARD ORCHESTRATION DIGITAL1

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
TRANSPOSITIONS-ON-DEMAND

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
CELLOCELLO , STEEL DRUMS
DRUMSDRUM SET , METALLIC PERCUSSION , TIC-TOC BLOCKS , WIND CHIMES , WOOD BLOCK
GUITARACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC GUITAR , SLIDE GUITAR (ELEC.)
GUITAR 2ACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC BASS , ELECTRIC GUITAR
REED 1ALTO FLUTE , BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , FLUTE , SOPRANO RECORDER
TRUMPETFLUGELHORN , PICCOLO TRUMPET , TRUMPET