'The Mad Tea Party' playing at New Castle Playhouse

Louise Carroll
·3 min read
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NEW CASTLE ― The New Castle Playhouse is presenting "The Mad Tea Party," a whimsical show with Lewis Carroll's wonderful Wonderland characters.

Director Peggy Hanna said she likes the Wonderland stories and wanted a play with characters that could be portrayed by boys or girls.

The New Castle Playhouse is putting on a production of "The Mad Tea Party."
The New Castle Playhouse is putting on a production of "The Mad Tea Party."

Playwright Brian D. Taylor created this original story that stays true to the wit and whimsy of the characters.

The Mad Hatter, Dormouse and March Hare meet for a tea party to honor Time, who has forgiven the Hatter and set time right once again. When the Jabberwock comes and wreaks havoc, the tea party guests, including the Caterpillar, the Duchess, the Frog Footman and Tweedledee and Tweedledum, decide that something must be done. Time suggests they travel back through time to the moment when the Jabberwock arrives so that they might catch him. Traveling back in time doesn't work, but they figure it out just in the nick of time.

Orlando Harrison as Dormouse (left), Kai Green as Time (center) and Xavier Moxley (right) as Mad Hatter perform at the New Castle Playhouse's production of "The Mad Tea Party."
Orlando Harrison as Dormouse (left), Kai Green as Time (center) and Xavier Moxley (right) as Mad Hatter perform at the New Castle Playhouse's production of "The Mad Tea Party."

Hanna said Lewis Carroll's the jabberwocky is off stage in professional productions, but she promises there is a surprise at the end of the play.

"No one knows what the jabberwocky looks like and I like that. It is in the imagination. I don't focus on it, but I liked the idea of it," she said.

From 85 children who showed up for the auditions, Hanna chose a cast of 36, ages 6 to 17, and added even more kid power to the production.

The New Castle Playhouse is one of the few theaters that put on plays with only children in the cast.

"Where do you think actors come from? I want children to develop a love for the theater," Hanna said.

She also realizes that it takes more than actors to put on a play; the crew is vital to the production. In this play a teenage girl is doing the sound and lighting, another is the stage manager and a couple of pre-teens are helping with the costumes.

"Buying or renting costumes is very expensive so we need to work with what we have. Sewing or altering costumes is much different that working with clothing. I am planning on having a class for children to learn basic sewing and costuming," Hanna said.

With plays that are cast with children, Hanna said she rarely has an actor who drives.

"I have a 17-year-old who drives himself, his girlfriend and his girlfriend's little sister to rehearsals. It feels weird, but I'm sure it is a big help to the parents," Hanna said.

Involved in theater since 1995, Hanna is enjoying it but looking forward to younger people stepping up and getting involved.

"It is rewarding to watch them grow up and now their children are in plays," she said.

What: "The Mad Tea Party"

Where: New Castle Playhouse Annex, 202 E. Long Ave., New Castle

When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and 2 p.m. Aug. 20 and 27.

Admission: All tickets, $13

For reservations, call (724) 654-3437 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Information: 724-654-3437; www.newcastleplayhouse.org online; email office@newcastleplayhouse.org

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: New Castle Playhouse production using Wonderland characters