Tempest in a Teapot
By Shualee Cook
Directed by Rachel Tibbetts
SATE Ensemble Theatre
September 26, 2024
Chrissie Watkins and Cast
Photo by Joey Rumpell
SATE Ensemble Theatre
If you love Shakespeare and the works of Lewis Carroll, then SATE’s latest show is for you! Even if you’re not a huge fan of one or both these writers, however, there’s a lot to learn in this world premiere performance of local playwright Shualee Cook’s Tempest in a Teapot. It does help to be familiar with the source material to some degree, but still this is a fascinating, character-driven look at growing up, self-discovery, and how lives can be affected by others’ opinions and actions in expected and unexpected ways.
The story here blends history and fantasy, as Alice Liddell (Chrissie Watkins) lives in Victorian-era Oxford and, as she is reaching young adulthood, has to grapple with the expectations of society and her professor father (Adam Flores), who expects her to marry well and settle down, while Alice isn’t sure what she wants to do. Enter Reverend Charles Dodgson, otherwise known as Lewis Carroll (John Wolbers), who visits after a long absence, making Alice have to reckon with her past as the inspiration for Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland books. As Alice is trying to make sense of her life, she is visited by the Cheshire Cat (Kay Ailee Bush), who coaxes her back to Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter (Flores), the March Hare (Keating), and the Dormouse (Summer Baer) await. Since Carroll had recently recommended that Alice read Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the Wonderland residents decide to read the play and act it out, casting Alice as Miranda–although she also ends up playing other roles, as well as featuring in flashback sequences about her own life. Carroll becomes Prospero, with the others playing a variety of roles as Alice is forced to confront her feelings about being Carroll’s “muse”, as well as trying to figure out who she is amid the expectations of the society in which she lives, along with her own family. What ensues is a cleverly constructed mashup of the Wonderland stories, The Tempest, and the intersecting lives of Alice and Lewis Carroll, with a good deal of humor and emotional reflection along the way.
As mixed up as the story may seem, and considering my Alice in Wonderland knowledge comes mostly from film adaptations, I found this story surprisingly easy to follow. It helped to read the Wikipedia pages for Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll at intermission, but generally, this was a fairly straightforward “coming of age” tale couched in whimsy and fantasy, with vivid characterization and a strong, enthusiastic cast, led by the truly fantastic performances of Watkins and Wolbers, who portrayed a believable relationship and credibly complex characters. The rest of the cast is also strong, with energetic turns from Keating, Baer, and Flores, and an added air of confrontation and mystery from Bush. All of the players work especially well together, emphasizing the concept of “ensemble” as SATE constituently does so expertly.
The look and style of this piece is also memorable, with a versatile set design by Bess Moynihan and Ellie Schwetye that fits well in the Chapel performance space. There are also especially clever costumes by Liz Henning and Kayla Lindsay that add to the overall whimsicality of the proceedings and characterizations. Moynihan’s lighting and Schwetye’s sound design also contribute ably to the overall vibe of the show, as do the props by Cecile “Cece” Entz and Katherine Leemon.
My only major regret about this production is that the show isn’t still running, because I would be telling everyone with even a mild interest in the subject matter to see this play. Tempest in a Teapot takes a clever concept and gives it life by means of a strong cast and vibrant staging. It’s another fun and thoughtful show from SATE.
Chrissie Watkins, John Wolbers
Photo by Joey Rumpell
SATE Ensemble Theatre
Conclusion–I regret that I wasn’t able to get this review out before the show closed.
Sounds like a fun production!