Alice in Wonderland: A Play Script
Characters:
- Alice: A curious and adventurous young girl.
- The White Rabbit: A frantic, perpetually late rabbit.
- The Cheshire Cat: A mischievous and enigmatic cat.
- The Mad Hatter: An eccentric tea party host.
- The March Hare: The Mad Hatter's chaotic companion.
- The Queen of Hearts: A tyrannical and volatile ruler.
- The Dormouse: A sleepy and easily manipulated creature.
- The Caterpillar: A wise and somewhat grumpy insect.
- The Gryphon: A half-lion, half-eagle creature.
- The Mock Turtle: A tearful and melancholic turtle.
(Scene 1: Down the Rabbit Hole)
(Alice sits reading a book, bored. A White Rabbit rushes past, checking his pocket watch.)
Alice: Oh, my! A talking rabbit! (She follows the rabbit down a rabbit hole.)
(The hole is surprisingly long. Alice tumbles down, landing with a soft thud.)
Alice: (Dazed) Well, that was unexpected.
(She explores the strange underground world.)
(Scene 2: The Pool of Tears)
(Alice finds herself in a large hall with many locked doors. She cries, her tears forming a large pool.)
Alice: (Sobbing) I'm lost! Everything's so strange!
(She encounters a Mouse, who is also swimming in the pool.)
Mouse: Are you lost, my dear?
Alice: Yes, and I don't understand anything!
(They discuss various things, Alice accidentally offending the Mouse with a story about a cat.)
(Scene 3: The Mad Tea Party)
(Alice encounters the Mad Hatter and the March Hare at a never-ending tea party, with the Dormouse.)
Mad Hatter: Have some tea, Alice! It's always tea time!
March Hare: (Laughing hysterically) Nonsense! It's always almost tea time!
(They engage in nonsensical conversation, riddles, and illogical games.)
Alice: (Frustrated) This is all very confusing...
(Scene 4: The Caterpillar)
(Alice encounters a Caterpillar smoking a hookah.)
Caterpillar: Who are you?
Alice: I'm Alice.
Caterpillar: And what do you want?
Alice: I want to go home. And I want to understand what's going on.
Caterpillar: (After a long pause) You'll grow. You'll change. Just accept it.
(Scene 5: The Queen of Hearts' Croquet Game)
(Alice encounters the Queen of Hearts and her courtiers. They are playing croquet with flamingos as mallets and hedgehogs as balls.)
Queen of Hearts: Off with their heads! (She shouts this frequently for minor offenses.)
(The game is chaotic and violent. Alice tries to navigate the situation.)
(Scene 6: The Mock Turtle's Story)
(Alice encounters the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle, who tells a tearful story of his school days.)
(Scene 7: The Trial)
(Alice is put on trial before the Queen of Hearts. The Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing tarts.)
Queen of Hearts: Sentence first – verdict afterwards!
(Scene 8: Escape and Awakening)
(Alice becomes increasingly exasperated and absurd situations escalate. She eventually wakes up from her dream, back in her garden.)
Alice: It was all just a dream!
(The play ends with Alice reflecting on her journey, having learned about identity, change, and the absurdity of Wonderland.)
Note: This is a simplified script. A full production would require detailed staging, costume design, and expanded dialogue to create the full whimsical and absurd atmosphere of Lewis Carroll's story. The different scenes can be adapted and reordered to fit the needs of the production. Many versions of the story exist, so elements can be added or removed to create a unique and compelling performance.
