Wondered

Wondered is an original work by local writer/director/producer Elodie Boal. This one act play has been a festival circuit phenomenon since its first iteration hit the stage 10 years ago. In that time, it has won over 40 awards, including Best New Australian Script. The work has evolved somewhat, with Boal disclosing to Stage Whispers that she was still adding some fresh scenes in the weeks prior to this staging. Still present in this recent production is Boal’s clever linguistic playfulness and wit, which is a delight for the word nerds in the audience to behold.

The narrative is a twisted and dark horror story, featuring key characters from the Alice in Wonderland universe. In this reality (or un-reality) The Hatter is serving main character energy and plentiful tea, with Alice, the Cheshire cat or ‘Ches’, and (Tweedle) Dee and Dum as his special guests. It’s a horrific tale in which a gothic, murderous Hatter – imagine a Sweeny Todd meets Jack the Ripper style Mad Hatter – slowly picks off the Wonderland characters one by one. The tension and horror intensify as fewer and fewer guests remain alive at his terminal tea party.

Together, this ensemble reanimates Wonderland’s iconic—and deliciously unhinged—inhabitants with vivid originality. Reagan Warner (A Midnight Visit, The Hunchback of Notre Dame), returns with big psychopath energy in the role of the magnetic and eccentric Hatter. Warner shows unwavering focus and commitment to the role, combining madness, danger, and top-shelf eyebrow acting in the characterisation. Warner is joined by Sophie Mason (The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables), who brings heart and determination to the curious Alice. Mason plays naivety without appearing childish and shares a sound rapport and trust with Warner.

Jennifer B Ashley (Into the Woods, The Wedding Singer), oozes charisma in the role of Ches. Forget the trademark Cheshire Cat grin, instead Ashley delivers an intense, daring characterisation of a cat who is not afraid to use her claws. Jaya Fisher-Smith (Head Over Heels, A Night with The Villains) as Dee and Peter Wood (Scenes from a Yellow Peril, Once on This Island) as Dum bring a lot of much needed comic relief to the narrative. Fisher-Smith has oodles of fun with their character voice and with the playful moments of physical comedy shared with Wood. Putting the ‘duh’ in Dum, Wood leans hard into the physical comedy, and with his expressive face, he repeatedly has the audience in fits of laughter.

Wondered is elevated by the vision and skill of Mira Ball Productions’ creative team, with each member contributing to a richly immersive theatrical experience. At the helm is Boal, whose confident and nuanced direction ensures the production maintains both emotional depth and narrative clarity. Rosie Humphreys’ makeup, hair, and scenic design presents a whimsically frayed, kitschy, yet eerily dark-Wonderland. Jackie Fredericksen’s costume design is both imaginative and effective, helping to distinguish each character with recognisable signifiers, thoughtful detail, and in cohesion with the set design.