A Mad, Mad Wonderland is a one-person storytelling performance, portraying a potential sequel to the events of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. The one-person is Jason Woods, an American. This is one of two shows he had brought to this year’s Fringe. 

Woods plays all the roles, merely changing mannerisms and voices to do so. All of the voices are also celebrity caricatures. We recognised a very good Alan Rickman as Tweedledee, and a relaxed Jeff Goldblum as Tweedledum. There are stacks of others too. Some of them are easy to guess, others less so. 

‘Spot the celebrity voice’ isn’t really the point here though. What is, is a delightful tale, that weaves in aspects of the existing stories, before sending the characters off down new narrative threads. All of this is done through eye-rolling wordplay and terribly clever rhyming. Woods has written the show, as well as performing it, and you can see his warmth for the originals in the way this story has been constructed.

Woods’ stagecraft is excellent. The space he’s been allocated at Greenside on George Street is set out in traditional theatre style, but the performance area is very deep. Woods chooses to perform at the front of the playing area, close to the audience. It means that we’re close enough to see his facial expressions, which adds an additional layer to the performance when the Cheshire Cat arrives.

This is a lovely little show, well constructed and pulled together, and performed beautifully. It’s not a big, flashy show, but it’s well done, and Woods is a brilliant interpreter of Lewis Carroll’s characters. Go and see the show, and revel in a quiet, competent, calm, and beautifully entertaining forty minutes. 

A Mad, Mad Wonderland continues at 15:00 in the Lime Studio at Greenside Venues at George Street (New Town), daily until August 23 (not 10, 17).