Digital/Video images on a LED screen

Alice in Funderland 

What a knock out, lively production last week at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin with the Abbey’s production of a new musical, a world premiere of “Alice in Funderland” by Phillip McMahon and Raymond Scannell. 

Set Designer and Costume Designer Naomi Wilkinson acquitted herself very well in devising appropriate settings to evoke a supportive visual ambiance and atmosphere to the production.  Naomi's collaboration with Jack Phelan’s Digital/Video images on the LED screen was a good example in the use of new and evolving technologies in Scenography.

This performing set with its stylised scenic elements, objects, lighting and particularly the digital imaging played its part in transporting the audience into an enhanced and exciting and dramatic experience. 

Jack Phelan’s Digital/Video images on the LED screen, the lighting and the performance were choreographed to set the time, place and mood to this audio, visual, emotional journey. Naomi Wilkinson’s stylised domestic set for the opening and closing scenes bookended the magic parallel fantasy Dublin she created in between. 

The result of collaboration between Set/Costume Designer Naomi Wilkinson, Video Designer Jack Phelan, Lighting Designer Sinéad McKenna and Director Wayne Jordan gave the audience an absorbing, scintillating, immersive theatrical experience of colour, movement. 

The choreographed, paced setting and resetting of scenic elements, dressing props and hand props during the scene changes by the Stage Crew in the background and cast on stage supported the audience’s transitional illusion from scene to scene.  

Equally important to creating the appropriate visual ambiance and atmosphere is the Lighting Designer, Sinéad McKenna’s contribution to colouring the dramatic mood and tone of the moments.  

The Costumes designed by Naomi Wilkinson were very contemporary, whacky and at times Fetish, yet Alice’s retained innocence throughout that defined her character against the colourful, make-believe, larger than life, imaginary characters populating her imagined world. 

The multitasking multitalented five piece “Funderland Band” was accommodated up stage of the acting area and gave of their all. They achieved a vibrant, paced, balanced and at times raucous   sound. Having said that, both the vocalists and the orchestra were of accord and sounded super.

When it comes round again it will be a must see for students of Set Design, Costume Design and Make-up Design. It is a production bursting with potential for designers.  

Abbey Theatre at: http://www.abbeytheatre.ie/

Patrick M for http://stagebrace.com/