Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...In Kokandy Productions’ Midwest premiere of the alluring musical “Alice by Heart,” fantastical characters from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” emerge like specters from within a war-ravaged London."
Stage and Cinema
- Recommended
"...Alice by Heart follows a young girl, Alice (Caitlyn Cerza), during the London Blitz of World War II as she takes refuge in her beloved copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice and her friend Alfred (Joe Giovannetti), who is deathly ill with tuberculosis, seek shelter in an underground tube station. Not ready to say goodbye to her beloved friend, Alice reads him their favorite book so they can escape into Wonderland one last time. Kokandy Productions' Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown is a perfectly OK musical, but at The Chopin Theatre, it's performed by an exceptional cast."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...Alice By Heart, now receiving its Midwest Premiere at Chopin Theatre in an intimate Kokandy Productions offering, is a sweet coming of age musical about loss and love when you are forced to leave childhood behind. Set in 1940’s London, this telling is aptly in the basement space at Chopin (the setting is an underground tube station/bomb shelter) and eases the audience into the tale as characters move on the bridgelike set and around the house trying to find comfort and solace in difficult times. There is a Doctor and a nurse and several shell shocked characters who are also sheltering in this underground space as the bombs go off."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...This amazing 90 minutes ( no intermission) of whimsical story telling exceeds what I anticipated, making it a must see for anyone who loves Alice!
With a book by Steven Slater and Jessie nelson and music by Duncan Sheik with lyrics by Slater, this is a story with several twists."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Recommended
"...As this musical retelling of Alice in Wonderland reminds us, time is fleeting-treasure every moment. But the script for this musical feels maddeningly muddled, so much so that it may even confound those familiar with the Lewis Carroll novel. However, Derek Van Barham's production is quite fantastical and fun. The audience is rewarded with Duncan Sheik's gorgeous musical score, beautifully sung by a dozen exceptional talented triple-threats and accompanied by Heidi Joosten's terrific five-member band. Ms. Brown and Mr. Van Barham have filled the small, alley-style stage with memorable characterizations; and Mr. Van Barham has added appeal to the show by creating some inventive, vibrant and athletic Choreography that helps move the story. As we take this heady trip down the hole, theatergoers will definitely be reminded of how fragile and precious is our time on this planet."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...Those familiar with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland are no stranger to the White Rabbit. As you may remember from many popular adaptations, the rabbit is obsessed with time, and is forever focused on lateness and getting from one place to the next. Alice by Heart is no exception, and the White Rabbit's character is infused with a similar urgency. However, part of the intriguing creativity of this particular adaptation is the multiple layers in which this story unfolds. The White Rabbit is not just in a storybook tale, but also represents an important figure in young Alice's life-her best friend, Alfred (Joe Giovannetti)."
Chicago On Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...Directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown, this midwest premiere production ably conjures both the fantasy and the painful reality of these people and the war raging above them. Alice (Caitlyn Cerza) starts reading the novel aloud, but is interrupted by the officious voices of the doctor (Darien Goulding) and nurse (Niki-Cherise Franco) assigned to the station, who are not interested in indulging a childish fantasy. (Within the world of that fantasy, these two will become the Jabberwock and the Queen of Hearts, which neatly sums up what Alice thinks of them.) When Franco’s nurse goes so far as to rip out the pages of the book, Alice insists on continuing anyway, saying she knows it “by heart.” And so she goes on, trying to save her best friend Alfred (Joe Giovannetti) by turning him into the White Rabbit."
Splash Magazine
- Highly Recommended
"...If you are a fan of the traditional Alice in Wonderland story, then you are in for a real treat. Kokandy Productions presents the Midwest premiere of Alice by Heart, a new musical and twist on the original story of Alice and the strange, yet unique journey she experiences in Wonderland. This new musical is a magical, fantastical and heartfelt journey, which awakens your senses and perceptions humanity, emotions and your imagination."
BroadwayWorld
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Both the lyrics and book contain numerous, overt references to time. It’s evident that the musical wants to use the theme of time — and Alfred’s limited days — to become a poignant reminder for the audience. But the text is so obvious on that front — and Alice and Alfred’s characters are so broadly drawn — that it doesn’t resonate on a deeper level."
NewCity Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...Kokandy Productions presents their take on Wonderland with “Alice by Heart” through September 29 at Chopin Theatre. Co-directed by Derek Van Barham and Brittney Brown, this reproduction of the 2012 musical by Steven Sater and Jessie Nelson, with music by Duncan Sheik, is as zany as its premise and brings Wonderland to life with creative set design, rock concert lighting and a cast that is not afraid to get weird."
