Alice In Wonderland 1947 (Eva Le Gallienne)

[Riklaa]

Alice In Wonderland 1947 (Eva Le Gallienne)

Devised and directed by
Eva Le Gallienne
Adaptation by Eva Le Gallienne
and Florida Friebus
Music by Richard Addinsell
with Bambi Linn as Alice

Performed in 1947 at the Majestic Theatre, the premier 'musical' theatre in New York, the cast included William Windom, Julie Harris and Eli Wallach.

British-born Eva Le Gallienne was a noted actress between 1914 and 1926. She then abandoned stardom, went on to become a great theatrical producer and was responsible for a number of significant productions.
Not only did she adapt both of Lewis Carroll's Alice stories into this play, she directed it, played the narrator AND the White Queen (right).
21-year old Bambi Linn as Alice (left) was a seasoned Broadway performer in musicals and making a big name for herself as a dancer.

The set designs by Florida Friebus were "based on the Tenniel drawings".
   This was quite literally the case as the sets were painted with typical Tennielian cross hatching which even extended to the costumes which made it look as if all the characters, with the exception of Alice, were actually drawn.

Set of 6 LP records - 12 Sides
Sides 1-3 of 12

[David Knight]

That is really good!

On the subject of Alice, The BFI have put a restored copy of the first ever film version on youtube - made in 1903! It's wonderful.

[Dwight Casey]

I saw her mostly terrible revival on Broadway with Kate Burton in the early 1980's - it led to, but was very different than the PBS TV production. One highlight though, was when Miss Le Gallienne flew in as the White Queen and hit the stage at full speed -- quite a moment!

This recording and this music is wonderful - Margaret Webster as the Cheshire cat and The Red Queen is very special - the set designer Florida Frebus, is of course, Dobey Gillis' mom.

Thanks

Dwight