ZooNation: The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
September 7, 2024

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked. “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Taking up that idea, ZooNation’s Kate Prince sets the first act of her The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in a mental hospital called Ladrington Brook, an “Institution for Extremely Normal Behaviour.” The huge model of the edifice that greets the audience looks somewhat reminiscent of The Grand Budapest Hotel which, given the witty, slightly madcap, high energy, high tempo nature of much of what follows, seems quite appropriate.

There is quite a powerful underlying message about acceptance, respect, not taking people at face value, compassion and letting people be themselves, although the narrative itself is thin. But who cares when the characterisation is so good, the dancing so terrific, and the energy levels so stratospheric.

The premise is that eight of the most familiar characters from Lewis Carroll’s books are inmates who all insist they are from a place called Wonderland. Ladrington Brook’s ‘so-sure of himself’ director, Dr Fontwell, has drafted in a young psychotherapist, Ernst, played by the outstanding Tommy Franzen, to ‘normalise’ them.

Act One is spent introducing the characters, each getting their moment in the psychoanalyst’s chair as Ernst turns tea time into therapy time. But as Ernst gets caught up into the ensemble dances, it’s soon obvious that he is going to end up as mad (or as sane) as the others. It’s not long before you start to wonder just who the mad ones really are, and its no great surprise when the inmates have rather more influence on him, than he on them.

And they are quite a collection of individuals, each with their own backstory to tell. We learn about them with the help of excellent narrator Malinda Parris, who you feel is talking to you personally, and individual dances in a range of hip hop styles that make the most of the performers’ diverse talents.

Isaac Baptiste (aka Turbo) is terrific as The Mad Hatter, a retired milliner suffering from the effects of mercury poisoning. Without doubt the group’s leader, he often appears to be the sanest person on stage, Ernst included.

Ryan Hughes is a neatly judged, frantic but anxious White Rabbit, who just wants to be liked. The purple-suited, sunglass sporting Andry Oporia is a cool Cheshire Cat, but one with trust issues and liable to fly off the handle. Elijah Smith is a lively, light-footed but low in self-esteem March Hare, who just wants to be loved. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, Harrison Dowzell and Lindon Barr, bicker constantly over a rattle. There’s also something about a split personality and a twin-less twin, but that was lost on me.

Jade Hackett is terrific as the domineering, feisty yet not too scary Queen of Hearts. Her tango-inspired duet with Ernst during which she recalls her abuse as a child is one of the highlights of the first half. It’s also done with surprising humour. And finally Alice, who suffers with anorexia, Portia Oti looking suitably young and innocent and very confused.

But always stealing the scene, even when in the background in Franzen’s Ernst. Apart from his duet with Hackett, which wouldn’t have looked out of place on Strictly, he has a stunning, twitchy, angst -ridden solo.

Having escaped Ladrington Brook after Ernst falls into a stupor, and taking him with them (which says much for their humanity and care for others), Act Two finds everyone back in Wonderland at, naturally, a tea party. There’s a beautiful, slow dance in which Franzen’s Ernst plays a full part while being remarkably convincing as someone in a semi-comatose state.

Ladrington Brook’s director and two doctors do briefly show up to try and get everyone back, but they are soon dispatched, a few neatly directed. slow-motion custard pies doing their bit. After that, it’s a fabulously put together, exuberant free for all with dance pretty much all the way, including a little audience participation.

Out of his dreamlike state, it’s not long before Ernst is dancing on the enormous, giant teapot laden table along with everyone else. When the cuddly Roland Rat (remember him?) lookalike Dormouse pops out of his teapot and croons sweetly to Alice, he brings the house down.

The hugely talented dancers are superbly backed by composer-musicians DJ Walde and Josh Cohen, with the lyrics sung by the equally super Shaneeka Simon, Teddy Wills and Kelly Agbowu, live on a balcony above the action. The songs and music come with bags of references and run the full gamut of styles from melancholic through reggae to heavy rock.

This year’s revival marks the tenth anniversary of The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. It’s been tweaked and extended over the years but it remains fabulous entertainment. The show is a joy from start to finish. To coin a phrase, you’d be mad to miss it!

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party by ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company is at the Linbury Theatre at The Royal Opera House to September 24, 2024.