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Alice - (2001-2013)
Adapted from Lewis Carroll by Gary Bachlund & Marilyn Barnett
After the stories of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass."
In two acts for eighteen soli (playing multiple parts) and chamber orchestra
Cast
[ Eighteen singers in order of first appearance, mast singers taking two roles ]
X denotes a large or central role
Lewis Carroll / Gryphon / White Knight Alice White Rabbit (only in Wonderland) | Tenor Soprano or Mezzo Soprano Countertenor | X X X |
[ The remainder of the cast play different parts in each act, and are listed below in order of appearance in Act One ]
Mouse / Tweedledee Lory / Guard Dodo / Gnat Caterpillar / Unicorn Frog Footman / Frog Fish-Footman / Pudding Cook / White Queen Duchess / Red Queen Cheshire Cat / Messenger Mad Hatter / White King / Dean Liddell March Hare / Humpty Dumpty Dormouse / Tiger Lily / Mrs. Liddell Queen of Hearts / Lion King of Hearts / Red Knight Mock Turtle / Tweedledum | Tenor Baritone Soprano Baritone Baritone Baritone Soprano Mezzo Soprano Baritone Baritone Tenor Soprano Bass or Bass Baritone Tenor Tenor | X
X X
X X
X
X |
[ Extras: Alice's sisters, the Reverend Robinson Duckworth, Flowers, Soldiers and Cards ]
Tessitura and Description (in order of first appearance)
Lewis Carroll / Gryphon / White Knight X
lyric tenor, tall, physically of thin or medium build
Alice X
lyric soprano or mezzo soprano,
small, physically of thin or medium build, girlish
White Rabbit X
countertenor, of any build or physical type
Mouse / Tweedledee X
character tenor of "imposing stature" with comic skills
Lory / Guard
baritone, smaller part
Dodo / Gnat
soprano with comic skills
Caterpillar / Unicorn
character baritone
Fish-Footman / Pudding
character baritone, smaller part
Frog-Footman / Frog
character baritone, smaller part
Cook / White Queen X
high soprano, large part, paired with Duchess and Red Queen
Duchess / Red Queen X
mezzo soprano, large part, paired with Cook and White Queen
Cheshire Cat / Messenger
character baritone
Mad Hatter / White King / Dean Liddell (spoken) X
baritone with comic skills, paired with Mrs. Liddell
March Hare / Humpty Dumpty X
character tenor of large stature, who sings a "patter song"
Dormouse / Tiger-Lily / Mrs. Liddell (spoken)
soprano, paired with Dean Liddell
Queen of Hearts / Lion X
bass or bass-baritone, taller than the King of Hearts
King of Hearts / Red Knight
character tenor, preferably significantly slighter than the Queen of Hearts
Mock Turtle / Tweedledum X
character tenor of "imposing stature" with comic skills
Orchestra
-- revised 2013 --
(17 Players minimum)
Oboe I & II
Horns I & II
Percussion (single player)
Harp
Piano
Strings (3,2,2,2,1 minimum)
NOTE For a richer orchestral texture, doublings of the single strings are suggested though not required.
