Ensemble Theatre presents 'Alice in Wonderland'

By Rick Pender for CityBeat

I’m not sure what Lewis Carroll would think of a retelling of his classic childhood fantasy portrayed as a “toe-tapping tale of a lost girl, a cool cat, a wild hare and the original ‘dancing queen.’ ” But I do know that audiences have loved Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s charming musical take on the story. This is the fourth time ETC has presented it, but don’t think they just drag out some old costumes and do it again.

That’s not ETC’s way: In fact, the Over-the-Rhine theater typically reinvents each holiday show with new costumes, new performers and even a new song or two by composer David Kisor. These fairytales are rewritten with families in mind, offering humor — including contemporary cultural references — that appeals to all ages. In Alice, children can pick up a meaningful lesson or two about behavior and life that feel more like entertainment than morality. Through Dec. 30. Kids 12 and under get in for $16; the rest of us pay $38-$42.

INFO: Ensemble Theatre, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-3555, ensemblecincinnati.org .