A Date with Alice

4th July 2015, Saturday

The Mad Tea Party goes on...
The Mad Tea Party goes on…

A mad tea party went underway here as the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland was celebrated here at the Centre.

Watch the official video for the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0MnsOCkU44

Lewis Carroll needed no introduction and before the event even began, children and adults alike began to enjoy the setting of the evening. A signpost with the directions, ‘This Way’, ‘That Way’, ‘Wrong Way’ amused the little ones to no end. In the book, the magical Wonderland was stuffed with food, from the Queen of Hearts’ stolen jam tarts to the mushroom Alice nibbles to change size.  A similar mood was set for the evening as the most delicious cupcakes, wafers and tea were served to those present.

The introductory speech was followed by a dramatic reading of selected excerpts from the book. This was where Keya as Alice, Purvi as the Dormouse, Randhir Khare as the Mad Matter, Pooja as the Caterpillar (all dressed for their parts) shined and delighted the audience. Lavanya, a 11-year old, then elegantly recited ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’, one of Carroll’s more eccentric poems. After which, children were taken in for a ride as three vital scenes of the 2010 Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland were screened. There was no denying the amount of pleasure they had as they shouted in delight for the Jabberwocky to be slayed! The event concluded with a light session of the Lobster Quadrille dance that was carried out for a little while.

Carroll wrote books for children that, by their humor, logic and imaginative absurdity, also appealed to grownups. Going down the rabbit-hole, sipping a cup of tea with the Mad Hatter, defending the White Queen’s rights- all these are things we grew up with. And who can forget the Queen screaming, “Off with his head!”

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Cakes and tea being served to the gathering.
Cakes and tea being served to the gathering.

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Few tidbits that were offered to everyone who arrived in the evening.
Few tidbits that were offered to everyone who arrived in the evening.

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Gyaan Adab team poses as characters from the story.
Gyaan Adab team poses as characters from the story.

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Props and decorations were present aplenty as Gyaan Adab came alive.
Props and decorations were present aplenty as Gyaan Adab came alive.

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Leena Chandorkar reads from the book.
Leena Chandorkar reads from the book.

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Lavanya recites 'The Walrus and the Carpenter'.
Lavanya recites ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’.

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Nityaasha Foundation