Alice's Adventures Under Ground at City Lit Theater

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...Director Terry McCabe approaches the piece as a conventionally whimsical play rather than what it is: a series of lighted windows revealing Lewis Carroll's relationship with his seven-year-old muse, Alice Liddell. McCabe's style invites us to expect things like a narrative, dramatic conflict, and characters with consistent identities, but none of that is forthcoming. Despite a strong cast, it's a frustrating 80 minutes."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Dodgson has a noble representative in the molasses-voiced Nick Lake, whose role as master of ceremonies of this drawing-room farce is enhanced by ingenious magic from set designer Ray Blackburn. Broad-comedy broads and baggy-pants comedians Morgan McCabe, Edward Kuffert and Lee Wichman—as the Duchess, Mad Hatter, March Hare and numerous others—delight with slapstick and droll pun delivery, despite only occasional accent slips and overly knowing winks."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...This show reminded me –and I mean no disrespect by this –of a college production. It felt very young, very determined; it’s a script that’s largely unknown, but has great potential, and some interesting themes; and the choices made by the actors and director are sure, even when they aren’t strong –and there is something to be said for that. It’s a fantastic show to check out if you’re a student; it’s a great show to bring children to; and it would be a pleasure for those who know and love Carroll’s work. The letters and notes of the interludes give new insights into the author, and actually lend the play some of its strongest material. It is certainly a whimsical night out."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...Terry McCabe’s staging is charm on the run. As always, he brings out the best from the best. What he can’t quite fix is the lack of rootedness of these variations on a theme of Alice. It’s not that it’s “too much of a muchness” but a tad too hit-and-run. This quicksilver script capriciously skips from source to source and story to story. You really have to know the journeys beforehand to appreciate the rapid-fire references."