MOMIX returns with Alice, a feast for the eyes and ears
About MOMIX
Founded in 1981 by Moses Pendleton, MOMIX has thrilled Philadelphia audiences 20 times with its elaborate full-length productions and dazzling repertoire. For decades, the company has amazed me with its undeniable power, unabashed physicality, breathtaking beauty and risk taking. As an ardent fan since the company’s early days, many of the works have been ingrained in my memory, as I watched Pendleton and associate director, Cynthia Quinn, grow and continually surprise audiences over the years.
MOMIX’s popularity is evident by its successes on world stages, return engagements, memorable full-length productions, accessibility and deep audience connections. Its ingenious blend of physical, sculptural, visual and breathtaking multimedia theatre keeps audiences wanting more.
Known for pulling off technical wonders—or “illusionist extravaganzas,” as The New York Times puts it—some of my favorite moments from the company’s performances include:
- The “Fire Solo” opening of Opus Cactus (2002) where there was real fire on the dancer’s feet
- Black lights, mirrors and ethereal aerial work transporting us to the moon in Lunar Sea (2005)
- A mammoth puppet by John Curry (of The Lion King fame) in Botanica (2010)
Alice is yet another triumph of mind-bending special effects.
What to unexpect in Alice
Pendleton’s initial fascination with Carroll’s subject was by way of Walt Disney’s 1951 animated feature, Alice in Wonderland. The film served as springboard for him and his incredible team to invent MOMIX’s fantastic journey down the rabbit hole.
For Alice, the company digs into its rich arsenal of magic, creating a fantasy world performed by nine dancers who play multiple roles. The resulting 90-minute theatrical extravaganza features 22 sections to wide-ranging music. It opens serenely with Alice, who appears to be floating, reading a book. As the performance progresses, many familiar characters appear, including the Tweedles, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, Lobster Quadrilles, Mad Hatter and Queens. In standard MOMIX fashion, each is given an abstract, absurd and surreal twist.
For instance, there’s a moment with four Alices on stage, the Tweedles are depicted by a quartet wearing cardboard baby faces, the mad Queen of Hearts dangles from an aerial rope in pointe shoes, and there are 30-foot puppets with blonde hair and skirts. The work also features a 20-foot mechanical lift, mirrors, exercise balls, silken fabrics and special effects that suspend time and space.
A smash-hit with our audiences back in 2022, the captivating adventure of Alice returns to Philadelphia by popular demand on Dec 12-14. I can’t wait to fall down the rabbit hole with you.
Anne-Marie Mulgrew, MFA, is an Education/Marketing Consultant for Penn Live Arts and the Artistic Director of Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company.
